With the mission of gaining the No. 1 spot accomplished, defending champion Ateneo is shifting its focus to making a return trip to the finals in the UAAP basketball tournament.

For topping the two-round elims with a 13-1 record, Ateneo plays No. 4 University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four on Sunday.

“Definitely our mission has been accomplished as far as getting the No. 1 spot in the Final Four. Now we have to look forward to the semifinals, particularly UST," said head coach Norman Black.

The Blue Eagles were coming off a dramatic 74-73 win over Far Eastern University last Saturday to secure the top spot. Down by 18 points late the third quarter, Ateneo rallied behind the efforts of Eric Salamat, Jai Reyes, and Nonoy Baclao to deny the Tamaraws a chance to secure the top overall position in the semis.

FEU, which finished No. 2 with an 11-3 mark, battles the dangerous University of the East in the other semis duel.

The Eagles and Tamaraws enjoy twice-to-beat privileges over their rivals, putting them one game away from their dream title match.

“Bottomline is we want to have confidence going into the semifinals. We don't want to have a loss because it makes it difficult for us to come back. I just told them to play hard in the second half and let's see what happens,” Black said.

Ateneo and UST are no strangers in playoff battles as they will meet for the third time in the last four seasons with both teams splitting their first two encounters.

Behind the efforts of Jervy Cruz and Jojo Duncil, the Tigers stunned the collegiate basketball scene with an upset win over JC Intal-led Eagles to bag the 2006 championship.

But Ateneo avenged its loss a year when it beat UST, 69-64, in a one-game stepladder match the following year.

The España-based squad lost its final three games but barely made it into the Final Four with a 6-8 record thanks to National University's upset win over La Salle – the other team contesting the No. 4 slot.

But despite UST's struggles in previous games and the fact that they beat them twice in the elims, Black is not going to take the Tigers lightly.

The multi-titled coach is seeking his third finals appearance since taking over the job in 2005.

“Our concern is not how they're (UST) playing right now, my concern is on my team making sure they have the energy and go out every game and execute," Black said. "But I think it will be easy for me to get the player's focus because they know the next step is the finals already."

Rabeh Al-Hussaini, who struggled all game because of foul trouble after scoring just seven points, is eager to get a win on Sunday after struggling against the FEU frontline.

“Lesson learned sa amin ito. A win is a win pero pangit ang panalo namin pero next game siguro mas gigil kami manalo," said Al-Hussaini.

Ateneo, though, could be a man short on Sunday as forward Nico Salva was ejected in the second half for throwing a punch on the chest of FEU guard Jens Knuttel.

Salva has been a solid contributor for the Eagles all season long.

"I hope not. But he got thrown out of the game so it's probably going to hurt us. Hopefully the penalty will be appealable,” Black said.