IN a reversal of fortunes, University of the Philippines got bamboozled 60-82 last Sunday by a La Salle five that wanted it more in Game 2.
“It is what it is, kung ano nangyari in Game 2. We’re gonna look inside us kung ano ang dapat naming ginawa,” Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde said.
“Ang importante dito ay may Game 3 pa, so nandoon pa iyong chance namin. We just have to learn from it,” he added.
But this is the Big Dance of the 86th UAAP basketball tournament–a time to win, not to learn.
Green Archers counterpart Topex Robinson outcoached Monteverde in the second game, using newly-minted MVP Kevin Quiambao off the bench.
“We wanted to make sure that we’re gonna have at least a back-up with our starters.
Whatever happens, we’ll have somebody who’ll come off the bench and provide (energy), and KQ was ready for the challenge.
“Sabi nga niya kung ano man ang gusto ng coaching staff, susunod lang siya and he gave us an extra boost after our starters,” Robinson said.
UP blasted La Salle 97-67 in the opener of the race-to-2 series six days back. After failing to finish off the Archers in Game 2, the pressure has shifted to the Maroons.
The knockout match for all marbles is set tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
La Salle is out to end a seven-year title dry spell, while UP is seeking a second diadem in three seasons.
“Sa akin kapag finals siyempre from the very start of the game dapat alam mo na what’s at stake and anong klaseng intensity, focus na harapin mo,” Monteverde said. “Whatever pressure is involved there kumbaga we should take it like men para ma-overcome iyon.
“We should learn to be consistent playing as a team. Siyempre, sa mga ganyang situation sa finals it would really count. How to face challenges na hindi mag-isa rather than to face challenges working together, helping each other out.”
Monteverde and the Maroons are hard-pressed to redeem themselves in the do-or-die tiff and not disappoint their horde of fans who prepared a bonfire at their Diliman campus last Sunday, only to be clobbered in Game 2. — With Abby Toralba
