MANILA, Philippines – De La Salle Univeresity and Adamson University clash in a showdown of pressing teams when the Final 4 of the UAAP Season 79 men's basketball tournament gets underway on Wednesday.

La Salle is looking to live up to its status as the tournament favorites, while Adamson – back in the Finals for the first time since 2011 – is hoping to pull off even more surprises after an already splendid campaign.

Statistical comparison:

Season review:

La Salle was, in a word, dominant for most of the Season 79. They dismissed team after team in impressive fashion, handing brutal losses to National University, University of Santo Tomas, and University of the East in the second round as their "mayhem" style of basketball proved too explosive for other teams to match.

For most of the tournament, it appeared that the Green Archers were headed for a sweep. Yet their 12-game winning streak came to a screeching halt at the hands of archrival Ateneo de Manila University, who stunned La Salle with an 83-71 victory.

Nevertheless, La Salle got right back on track, proving to be the steadier team in a 73-67 win over defending champion Far Eastern University. The Green Archers clinched the No. 1 seed in the tournament and will have a twice-to-beat edge in the Final 4.

Meanwhile, the Adamson Falcons barged into the Final 4 thanks to impressive play from Fil-Am rookies Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robbie Manalang, as well as the steady inside presence of Papi Sarr. The Falcons encountered some stumbling blocks along the way as they worked to learn the demanding system of head coach Franz Pumaren, but a four-game winning streak in the second round showed that they were peaking at the right time.

Unfortunately for the Falcons, they will enter the Final 4 on a loss, as they were beaten by Ateneo, 73-67, in their final game of the eliminations. That setback also denied them a chance to force a playoff for the second semis bonus, and so they face the daunting task of having to beat powerhouse La Salle twice for a chance to enter the Finals.

Elimination round history:

Round 1: La Salle 91, Adamson 75

La Salle overpowered Adamson in their first meeting of the tournament, roaring to a 19-point edge in the first half before cruising to the victory. It was the Green Archers' fifth straight win of the tournament, and marked the first time that Pumaren coached against La Salle – a team he led to five championships.

Round 2: La Salle 86, Adamson 79

In the second round, La Salle had to survive a fourth-quarter rally by Adamson to claim their eighth straight win. It was a one-possession game, 78-80, inside two minutes, but Kib Montalbo drained a clutch three-pointer that gave the Green Archers some much needed breathing room.

What they said:

La Salle coach Aldin Ayo: "We know that it's not going to be easy. All the teams are competitive, and eto na ata 'yung pinaka-magagaling na coaches na andito sa atin ngayon. We're expecting that they are going to adjust to our system, and everybody is going to be competitive."

Adamson coach Franz Pumaren: "It will be exciting, but you have to look at the whole picture. We're playing the best team right now. Hopefully, we can accept the challenge."

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