A SECOND straight title is within reach for defending champion La Salle despite a big challenge posed by a game but outclassed Adamson University.
“It’s nice to be back in the finals and I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing (AJ) Fransman and (Cali) Calisay who are vital parts of their team,” Green Archers coach Topex Robinson said. “They still gave a good fight and that just shows how good that team is.
“These guys did what they’re supposed to do and just tried to honor the game and played their best basketball so it’s nice to be back in the finals,” he added.
Robinson spoke after his top seed and twice-to-beat wards beat the Soaring Falcons 70-55 last Saturday in their Final Four duel to advance to the finals of the 87th UAAP basketball tournament.
La Salle will clash with University of the Philippines in the best-of-3 Big Dance.
The Fighting Maroons, also armed with a win-once incentive, made short work of the third-ranked University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers 78-69 in their Last Four tiff.
Game 1 of the race-to-series is set for Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao showed the way for the Archers with 14 points, to go with three rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists while graduating guard Joshua David added 11 markers on an impeccable 3-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc.
For Robinson, the Archers will be the underdogs in the title battle.
“What’s obvious during those first two meetings was, you know, UP didn’t have a complete line-up. I guess that’s one thing we haven’t seen,” Robinson said.
“Going back to our FilOil meetings, they beat us twice. That’s one thing that we have to remember. If they’re gonna be a complete team out there, they’re gonna be… Obviously, they came here as the No. 1 team. We’re just slowly catching up at the second spot.
But La Salle will be determined as ever to annex a back-to-back, according to Robinson.
“In these 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. This is just gonna make us better,” he said. “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.”
