Games Saturday (Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. UE vs La Salle
4 p.m. NU vs Adamson

League-leading Far Eastern University bounced back from a stinging setback even as La Salle completed the Final Four cast in the 73rd UAAP basketball tournament on Thursday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Tamaraws needed a bid third quarter performance from top MVP contender RR Garcia to dispatch National University, 77-62, while the Green Archers overcame a slow start to eliminate University of Santo Tomas, 78-69.

FEU kept its hold of the solo lead with a 10-2 slate while La Salle forged a tie for third and fourth places with idle-Adamson with identical 8-4 cards, meaning that the aspirations of NU and UST to reach the semis were put to rest on a gloomy Thursday afternoon.

The Archers’ win also catapulted the Falcons to make the semis for just the second time since the current format was institutionalized in 1994. The Bulldogs fell to 5-7 while the Growling Tigers succumbed to a tie with University of the East for sixth at 4-8.

Garcia scattered 11 points in the third period as the Tamaraws made up for squandering a 16-point second quarter lead. The former RP Under-18 standout finished with 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the 3-point zone.

FEU can clinch a twice-to-beat advantage if it beats winless University of the Philippines on Sunday. The game is a prelude to its highly-anticipated showdown with second-running Ateneo on September 11.

It was a sweet redemption for the Morayta-based squad, which suffered a disappointing 80-66 loss to La Salle last Saturday.

The scores:
First Game:
FEU 77 — Garcia 23, Ramos 11, Noundou 11, Romeo 6, Sanga 6, Cawaling 5, Cruz 4, Bringas 4, Knuttel 4, Cervantes 3, Exciminiano 0.
NU 62 — Terso 18, Mbe 11, Ponferrada 10, Hermosisima 10, Baloran 8, Khobuntin 3, Tungcul 2, Ludovice 0, Javillonar 0, Singh 0, Malanday 0, Magat 0.
Quarters: 26-12; 39-29; 59-52; 77-62.

Second Game:
LA SALLE 78 — Webb 14, Atkins 14, Villanueva 11, Marata 9, Mendoza 8, Tolentino 7, Ferdinand 7, Andrada 7, De la Paz 1, Vosotros 0, Tampus 0, Paredes 0.
UST 69 — Afuang 19, Teng 14, Fortuna 13, Mariano 10, Bautista 9, Camus 4, Pe 0, Lo 0, Daquioag 0, Aytona 0.
Quarters: 17-18; 36-27; 53-46; 78-69.