UAAP Finals: La Salle, UP begin clash

UAAP SCHEDULE: Season 88 basketball Finals – UP vs La Salle

Chicco Briones shoots a potential game-winning three for the UP Fighting Maroons in a game againt La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Defending champion University of the Philippines started the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on a 0-2 (win-loss) record but found a way to clinch the first Finals berth.

“[T]o start the season … 0-2, [but still] coming together, you know, and being able to respond … that, in itself, [is something] I’m very proud of,” said UP coach Goldwin Monteverde.

“This team, we’ve had so many ups and downs but I know that I trust that the team would always bounce back. They’ll always rise.”

There’s still one more 0-2 record the Maroons have a chance to overturn to become first again.

The reigning kings will face La Salle in Game 1 of the Finals on Wednesday and will need to muster their comeback energy not only because the Archers are coming in with loads of momentum after stunning No. 1 National U in the Final Four but also because the Maroons are 0-2 this season against their rivals.

Graduating gift

The Archers, however, are not fooling themselves about what awaits them in the best-of-three opener.

“It’s their fifth straight Finals appearance, so that’s really huge for a program. That’s not luck,” La Salle coach Topex Robinson said.

“It’s really gonna be a good challenge for us as a team. Personally, as a coach as well, I can learn from somebody who’s been there five times. They really are a good staff that he has there, and a good support group as well. But we also have to take into consideration that we’re also happy to be here. We also wanted to be in the Finals,” he added.

UP is looking to annex back-to-back titles and give graduating players led by Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano and Terrence Fortea a fitting send-off.

Those guards will keep an eye on one particular La Salle backcourt ace: Jacob Cortez, the son of Mike Cortez—one of the key cogs in La Salle’s four-peat in Season 64 (2001).

But the Archers aren’t all about Cortez. Mike Phillips leads a strong core that also includes Kean Baclaan, Earl Abadam, JC Macalalag and Mason Amos. —INQUIRER SPORTS DESK INQ