TOP seed University of the Philippines and No. 4 defending champion Ateneo have set different goals.
For the Fighting Maroons, it’s to make short work of their rivals. For the Blue Eagles, live to fight another day.
Which target would be realized will be known when UP battles Ateneo tomorrow, Saturday, as the Final Four of the 86th UAAP basketball tournament gets going at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 2 p.m., with the Maroons raring to make good use of their twice-to-beat advantage and dethrone the Eagles.
No. 2 La Salle, also armed with a win-once incentive, clashes with third-ranked National University in the main game at 6 p.m.
A knockout tiff, or tiffs, if necessary, will be played Wednesday next week at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“You’ve been telling us all year long we’re the defending champions, now we don’t get to be the defending champions?” Baldwin said in jest after his troops ousted Adamson University with a 70-48 rout in their playoff for the last semifinals slot two days ago.
“No, we’re definitely the underdog. UP won’t take us lightly. They’re too professional, they’re too intelligent, and Gold (Monteverde) is a clever guy.
“He’s got the most professional group of guards that you’d ever hope to have in the roster. They’ll be ready to play,” he added.
The Katipunan-based cagers finished the eliminations with a 7-7 slate and are in an unusual situation, having been relegated to a do-or-die tiff in the Final Four for the first time ever.
“Our guys will come out with a lot of heart,” Baldwin said. “Hopefully, we’ll have a curve ball, could give us buckets here and there, and just fight and hang on.”
The likes of Kai Ballungay, Mason Amos, Chris Koon, 6-foot-10 Ghanaian center Joseph Obasa, and Jared Brown will be counted upon by Ateneo to deliver.
UP is the No. 1 seed in the semifinals for the first time after winding up with a 12-2 mark in the elims but Monteverde quickly downplayed their edge.
“Ako, hindi namin iniisip iyong sitwasyon na iyon,” Monteverde said. “Like what I said, ang importante, malaman namin kung sino (opponent) and again we’re not gonna talk about advantage.”
The Maroons will bank on reigning MVP Malick Diouf, CJ Cansino, Gerry Abadiano, JD Cagulangan, Harold Alarcon, and Francis Lopez in the playoffs showdown pitting the squads that faced each other in the last two finals.
The Eagles tripped the Maroons 99-89 in overtime when they first met last Oct. 22 before UP got back at Ateneo 65-60 last Oct. 29.
The Green Archers, who ended with an 11-3 card after the elims, will be spearheaded anew by leading MVP contender Kevin Quiambao, Evan Nelle, CJ Austria, Mike Philips, and Mark Nonoy in their bid to end a seven-year title drought.
