UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. UAAP PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—There wasn’t anything too technical about the way University of the Philippines played in a loss to La Salle on Wednesday.
At least that’s how Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde put it.
Perhaps more than the in-game adjustments, Monteverde felt his team lacked the willingness to win against a team that was in desperation mode.
“Credit to La Salle. They were very prepared for this game. Their energy was very high. I guess for us, in a game like this, we have to want it more than your opponent,” Monteverde said after an 83-80 loss to the Green Archers.
“We failed to match their intensity,” added Monteverde, whose squad lost despite making 26 free throws, 16 more than La Salle.
That allowed La Salle to zoom to an early double digit lead which even ballooned to as high as 22 points.
The Maroons fought back in the fourth quarter but their comeback was a case of too little too late.
Fortunately for UP, which had a twice-to-beat advantage, the loss only even things up with do-or-die game for a spot in the finals set on Friday.
“What’s important for us right now is to know where to adjust. Like I said, in a season such as this, you don’t have time to sulk. We just need to bounce back and be ready for the next game,” Monteverde said in Filipino.