It all boiled down to effort.
University of the Philippines head coach Goldwin Monteverde admitted that De La Salle University outworked his boys when it pulled the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball finals series into a winner-take-all encounter.
The Fighting Maroons failed miserably to sustain the momentum of their 30-point blowout win in the best-of-three opener when they got beaten black and blue by the Green Archers, 60-82, in Game 2 last Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Monteverde thought La Salle came extra prepared and motivated.
The Green Archers that UP faced wasn’t the same team it demolished last Wednesday, 97-67.
“I thought that they had more energy,” the mentor said as his squad got forced to a third straight Game 3 in as many finals appearances.
“(But) this game would teach us what kind of effort to put forth to be able to get the championship.”
The Fighting Maroons, who before the match announced Rookie of the Year winner Francis Lopez doubtful due to flu only to put him as a starter, looked sharp as it went up 12-2.
But it proved to be UP’s last hurrah as La Salle pestered the Season 84 champion with the same physical defense, hustle and aggressiveness it unleashed to take Game 1.
“Part of it was the rebounds,” Monteverde admitted.
The Fighting Maroons threw all available bodies to get the rebounds as they dominated the boards, 58-46, including 19 from the offensive end.
“I think they were getting most of the 50-50 (balls). For me that’s a huge thing, but then again definitely we’ll learn from that,” Monteverde said.
Now, it’s back to even ground for UP and La Salle. But the Fighting Maroons are in a precarious situation of a repeat of last year’s finals series when they surrendered the crown to Ateneo de Manila University despite drawing the first blood.
Game 3 on Wednesday at the same venue will not only be about outworking each other but will be decided by which team will be consistent from start to finish and want it more.
“I guess, we should learn to be consistent playing as a team. We should learn how to face challenges as a team, working together and helping each other out,” Monteverde said.
