FALLING two in a row in the Big Dance should be more than enough motivation for University of the Philippines to regain lost glory.
Fighting Maroons coach Golden Monteverde said his wards are hungry more than ever to reach the Promised Land of the 87th UAAP basketball tournament.
“Sa amin naman, from last season, iyong nangyari, we took that to heart sa first practice pa lang,” Monteverde said. “We as a team, ang goal namin is to take it one game at a time.
“Ngayon, nandito na kami. Iyan ang maganda sa finals, mag-start kami ng 0-0. It’s a best-of-3 series. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing our best,” he added.
Monteverde expressed his sentiments on the heels of the Katipunan-based five’s 78-69 victory over University of Santo Tomas in the Final Four last Saturday that enabled them to advance to the best-of-3 finals against the defending champions La Salle Green Archers.
The Growling Tigers giving his squad fits can only serve them in good stead, according to Monteverde.
“We expected a tough fight against UST. The way they run their program this season, nakita naman natin na as the season progresses, they’re improving a lot,” Monteverde said.
“On our end, ang important sa amin is the way we responded. I believe in the second half we started moving the ball well and we had the momentum.”
Game 1 of the race-to-3 title battle is set this Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Like second-ranked UP, No. 1 seed La Salle also made good use of its twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals after it waylaid Adamson University 70-55 also last Saturday.
To get back at the Archers who beat them in three epic games in the finals last year, Maroon forward Reyland Torres said La Salle is on their crosshairs—beginning in practice.
“Nagsisimula pa rin sa ensayo namin. May one week preparation kami (para sa finals) so doon namin sisimulan bawat practice,” he said.
