UP, DLSU tango in one more dance

Game on Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. – UP vs La Salle

REIGNING champion University of the Philippines (UP) and rival De La Salle University (DLSU) tango in one more dance to settle their finals trilogy in the winner-takes-all Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball finals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The epic duel — their third straight since splitting the last two — reaches the pinnacle at 3:30 p.m. with an anticipated bigger crowd after a flock of over 18,000 and 22,000 fans in the first two games.

Out for sweet redemption, the DLSU Green Archers drew first blood in Game 1, 74-70, behind the heroics of Jacob Cortez while Jacob Bayla and Gerry Abadiano took their turns from both ends of the floor for an equalizer in Game 2, 66-63.

Like their first two finals duels that both reached sudden death, the first two games were decided by the slimmest of margins, paving the way for a boiling point of the extended war between the two squads that have taken turns lording over the Philippine collegiate landscape today.

“One thing you can expect from us is giving our all. Game 3 is every player’s dream. We’d be lying if we are not feeling nervous but there’s also the excitement,” said coach Christian Luanzon on behalf of the master tactician Goldwin Monteverde who lost his voice in Game 2.

Graduating Mr. Abadiano in the clutch unleashed a 6-0 personal run to preserve UP’s lead every La Salle retaliation while Mr. Bayla locked down Mr. Cortez in the final possession for the win. In Game 3, they would need the help from Francis Nnoruka, Rey Remogat, Terrence Fortea and Harold Alarcon, who cooled down to five points after a 34-point explosion in Game 1.

That shifted the momentum on the dribblers from Diliman, seeking to win their third title in five straight finals appearances under the wizardry of Mr. Monteverde — and fifth overall in history as an emerging superpower.

The storied Taft program, in its 19^th finals stint as the most in the UAAP history, shoots for its 11^th title and second in the last three seasons under the youthful and former pro floor general Topex Robinson.

But only one’s destiny will be realized when the final buzzer blared around the iconic Big Dome.

The Green Archers, amid a roller coaster ride marred by injuries and a near elimination before stringing five straight wins to make the finals as the No. 4 seed — only the third team in history to do so — are hoping it would be them.

La Salle came so close to fulfilling that in game but Vhoris Marasigan’s potential title-clinching trey just rattled out of the rim as UP sealed the deal from the charity stripe.

“UP is the champion for a reason. There’s a reason why this is the finals. The championship would not be given to you. We have to earn it,” said Mr. Robinson, urging his wards to keep their heads up high after a foiled chance in Game 2 “that could have brought the house down.”

“But then again, that’s the beauty of winning Game 1. We still have a chance. We gave ourselves a chance to win the championship. We just have to be more patient and keep slugging it out again.”

To do it, Mr. Robinson would need more than just Mr. Cortez, calling on the entire Taft Avenue ready to unleash their arrows on Diliman led by team captain Mike Phillips, JC Macalalag, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, Earl Abadam and Mr. Marasigan. — John Bryan Ulanday