 |
| c/o UAAP |
Games Sunday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum)
11 a.m. – UST vs FEU-D (JHS Final Four)
1 p.m. – NU vs UST (Women Finals)
5:30 p.m. – DLSU vs UP (Men Finals)
DE LA SALLE will finally test the mettle of a full-strength University of the Philippines when Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball championship reels off Saturday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The back-to-back title-seeking Green Archers swept their elimination round head-to-head against the Fighting Maroons, who aim to make it up from their two previous Finals losses after ending a 36-year title drought in UAAP Season 84 (May 2022).
But UP missed Quentin Millora-Brown in the second round, who rejoined his family in the United States with the passing of his grandfather Angel last month and was without JD Cagulangan in the first round due to injury.
Coach Topex Robinson is bracing for what the Fighting Maroons will throw at them in the Finals opener at 5:30 p.m.
"Again, what’s obvious during those first two meetings was, you know, UP didn’t have a complete lineup. I guess, that’s one thing we haven’t seen," Robinson said.
The Fighting Maroons have proved their worth in the preseason by defeating the Green Archers and are capable of doing so in the UAAP.
"Going back to our FilOil meetings, they beat us twice. That’s one thing that we have to remember. If they’re going to be a complete team out there, they’re going to be… They came here as the No. 1 team. We’re just slowly catching up at the second spot," Robinson said.
"Again, in this Finals, it’s about how we’re gonna be prepared. We know UP is always gonna be all-out and they like to be the best that they could be. And this is just gonna make us better.
"It’s gonna challenge us and sabi nga namin we don’t really put so much on what the other team will do but we’re just gonna focus ourselves. And that’s what’s important for us," he added.
Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips are determined to elevate their game several notches higher, while Joshua David, who vastly improved his performance this season, will be such a huge help especially when the going gets tough.
Coach Goldwin Monteverde is not dwelling on the Fighting Maroons' heartbreaks in the past two seasons and is now focusing on the present.
"Sa amin naman, from the last season, yung nangyari sa last season. We took that to heart sa first practice pa lang. We as a team, ‘yung goal namin is to take it one game at a time. Ngayon, nandito na kami. Yan ang maganda sa Finals, mag-start kami ng 0-0. It’s a best-of-three series. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing our best," Monteverde said.
One-and-done Millora-Brown from The Citadel seeks to make up for missing the second round duel by imposing his 6-foot-8 body at will in the middle, while Cagulangan and Harold Alarcon will provide the needed offense during crunch time.
De La Salle is gunning for an 11th title, eyeing to move closer to fourth-running Ateneo's 12, while UP hopes to dangle its fourth championship overall.
In the women's division, unbeaten National University and holders University of Santo Tomas duke it out in the Finals opener at 1 p.m.
The Lady Bulldogs gained an outright passage to the best-of-three championship series after going 14-0 in the eliminations against the Tigresses, who hurdle two do-or-die matches in the step-ladder stage to arrange a rematch.
NU coach Aris Dimaunahan has tried to keep his troops sharp during the long break going to Game 1.
"I think our commitment to getting a chance to bounce back this year, I think that's an added motivation for us to really stay locked in and really work on our game in preparation for the championship na napuntahan namin ngayon," Dimaunahan said.
Angel Surada and Camille Clarin have been the glue that stuck the Lady Bulldogs together, and the seven-time champions boast of foreign student-athlete Jainaba Konateh who can dominate the paint.
"Again, we have to work harder, together. Sa NU, dehado kami sa height so we have to work harder talaga sa loob," said UST coach Haydee Ong.
Do-it-all Kent Pastrana will be the Tigresses' heart and soul as they shoot for a second straight title and 13th overall.
In the junior high school division, second-seeded Far Eastern University-Diliman and University of Santo Tomas clash for the last finals spot in the division.
University of the East is awaiting the winner of the battle between FEU-D and UST after dethroning reigning champion National University Nazareth School, 85-64, last Wednesday.
The Baby Tamaraws had a chance to enter the championship round, but the Tiger Cubs disarmed them of their twice-to-beat advantage, 84-75, to force a rubber match for a spot in the finals.
"Adjust pa rin kami. Balik sa training, balik sa viewing para makapagprepare lahat. Same as nung prinepare namin nung first game, adjustment doon sa game ng FEU kasi magaadjust din sila. Magaadjust din kami para makapasok ng finals," UST head coach Noli Mejos said.
The Tiger Cubs will shoot for their first-ever finals appearance in the division, while the Baby Tamaraws look to return to the finals after a runner-up finish in the inaugural season early this year.
All games are available for free for local and international fans via the Pilipinas Live app. The games will be also broadcast live on free-to-air TV via One Sports and in high definition on the UAAP Varsity Channel on Cignal TV.
No comments:
Post a Comment