IN the Miss Universe beauty pageant, it’s called the Top 12. In music talent competitions like American Idol, it’s “the semifinals.” In corporate circles, it’s called “shortlisting.
” In sports tournaments, it’s the Final Four. The Final Four is when the going gets tough and the tough get going. The last four teams come out swinging and hope that their best is good enough.
This is what sports fans refer to as “the exciting part.” Marked by intense action where players of all four teams bring their A Game, the results of this elite competition is highly unpredictable. No matter if a team swept or dominated the elimination round, past glory is wiped clean off every team’s slate.
In the same manner, the “weaker” teams that may have squeaked through to enter the Final Four get the chance to gain the upper hand if they can beat the two top-seeded teams twice. Anything goes in the Final Four. Right now is Final Four season in the men’s basketball tournaments of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).
NCAA Season 100’s Final Four competitions start this weekend, November 23, with Mapua University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde as first and second seeds, respectively. San Beda University and host school Lyceum of the Philippines are third and fourth, respectively. That means the Lyceum Pirates have to beat the Mapua Cardinals twice to get a coveted finals appearance.
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