Games today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
2 p.m. — UP vs Ateneo
6 p.m. — La Salle vs NU
University of the Philippines and De La Salle University are out to make history forging a title showdown when they clash with separate foes in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Armed with twice-to-beat advantages for finishing at the top two after the double-round eliminations, the Fighting Maroons and Green Archers are just a win away from setting up a best-of-three championship date for the first time since La Salle joined the league in 1986.
But both teams have to get past their equally dangerous semis opponents first with top seed UP facing No. 4 defending champion Ateneo de Manila University at 2 p.m. to be followed by No. 2 La Salle squaring off with National University in the 6 p.m. nightcap.
The Fighting Maroons get an early rematch against Season 85 finals tormentors Blue Eagles in a clash where only one of the championship protagonists of the previous two years will move up to vie for the crown.
UP proved to be a cut above the rest during the elims, posting a 12-2 win-loss record for its first-ever top seeding in the Final Four era.
The Fighting Maroons split their head-to-head with the Blue Eagles as they dropped their first meeting 89-99 in overtime before exacting revenge in the second round, 65-60.
Although UP holds an advantage in its fifth straight semis stint, head coach Goldwin Monteverde doesn’t want his team to be too complacent as they are still going up against the reigning champions.
“We’re not thinking about our situation (having the semis advantage). We’re not gonna talk about advantage because we still have to work to get to where we want to be,” Monteverde said of his squad that is coming off a 79-57 blowout of the Bulldogs to end the elims with a four-game winning streak.
Monteverde will pin his hopes on reigning Most Valuable Player Malick Diouf, Francis Lopez, CJ Cansino, JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon and Gerry Abadiano to knock the crown off Ateneo’s head.
Survival will be the name of the game for the Blue Eagles, who took the back door for their ninth semis appearance in a row.
The Battle of Katipunan will see Ateneo as the underdogs this time as it tries to save its reign from crumbling.
The Tab Baldwin-mentored squad had to get past feisty Adamson University, 70-48, last Wednesday in the playoff for the last Final Four seat.
“It’s win or go home, but you know, it’s got to be about preparation. You’re not just gonna walk out on the court against the really strong UP team who’s rested,” Baldwin said.
The Kiwi-American mentor hopes that his main guns Kai Ballungay, Jared Brown, Mason Amos, Sean Quetevis, Chris Koon and center Joseph Obasa have enough fuel left in their tank to force a decider.
“We know we’re going up against, you know, a real top team and we’re gonna have to, you know, see if we can pull some rabbits out of the hats,” Baldwin added.
La Salle, on the other hand, is back in the Final Four with a vengeance after falling short last year in a disappointing playoff loss to Adamson.
Behind Most Valuable Player frontrunner Kevin Quiambao, the Green Archers went on a tear after sweeping the second round to move up to second spot with an 11-3 slate.
Now, La Salle is once again knocking at the finals door after a runner-up finish in 2017 with first year coach Topex Robinson as captain of the ship.
“We’re gonna put all of our energy and effort into making sure that we’re okay. You know, this is uncharted territory for us, going into the Final Four so we wanna make sure that we’re gonna be ready,” Robinson said.
