Game today:
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
6 p.m. — UP vs La Salle
One team will raise its fist while basking in glorious triumph while the other will be vanquished, left to grit its teeth thinking endlessly of the what-ifs.
De La Salle University and University of the Philippines go at it for one last time when they collide in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball tournament best-of-three title series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Splitting their first two matches in dominating fashion, the scheduled 6 p.m. encounter will be a tossup with the team with enough fuel left in its tank, mental toughness and unquestionable heart in the grueling series emerge with a shiny crown on its head.
The Green Archers would like to think that momentum is on their side after crushing the stunned Fighting Maroons, 82-60, in Game 2 last Sunday to force a third straight finals series decider.
However, finishing off UP, which has already been in the same situation the past two finals, to end a seven-year title drought will be a tougher challenge for La Salle.
“Well, I know, we know it’s gonna be hard. You know, winning a championship is gonna be hard. Playing against the top college team in the country right now. It’s going to be hard,” first-year Green Archers coach Topex Robinson said.
La Salle matched the physicality of UP in Game 2 and hounded it all game long with tenacious defense and hustle.
Robinson, who is a win away from joining Franz Pumaren, Juno Sauler and Aldin Ayo in the elite club of Green Archers mentors who won it all in their maiden seasons, knows that Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde will make adjustments to get the upper hand in their chess match.
“So, come Game 3, obviously, there’s going to be a lot of work. We know UP will be going to come out with guns blazing. But for us, we always focus on ourselves. We don’t know what UP will do but we know what we will do,” Robinson said.
The spotlight will be on reigning Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao as he tries to lead La Salle to its most important win of the season along with veteran guard Evan Nelle, Francis Escandor, Joshua David and CJ Austria, the unlikely heroes of Game 2. Mike Phillips and Mark Nonoy are also expected to do their part for the green side.
Playing in a Game 3 is nothing new to the Fighting Maroons, who took Game 1 with ease, 97-67, last week.
But UP has a 1-1 record in series deciders winning the title in Season 84 only to lose it in Season 85 against the same rival in Ateneo de Manila University.
And it’s something that Monteverde would like to avoid.
“In the finals, you should from the very start of the game know what’s at stake and what kind of intensity and focus you’ll have to face,” Monteverde said.
“Whatever pressure is involved there we should take it like men to overcome that.”
Outworked and outmuscled in their last meeting, the Fighting Maroons must get their acts together to avoid throwing away the season that they have dominated right from the elimination round.
Season 84 MVP Malick Diouf needs to be more careful managing his fouls after fouling out last game. His early foul trouble affected UP’s defense inside the paint, opening up the lane for La Salle to penetrate.
Rookie of the Year Francis Lopez, CJ Cansino, Harold Alarcon and JD Cagulangan, the hero of UP’s Season 84 title conquest that ended a 36-year championship wait, are expected to step up big time for the Diliman-based squad.
“We’re gonna look inside us, to reflect on the things that we need to do. What is important now is for us to do what we need to do in Game 3,” Monteverde said.
