GOING into the finals opener, coach Goldwin Monteverde of defending champion University of the Philippines challenged his wards to tighten their defensive screws against an equally determined Ateneo side.
The Fighting Maroons responded in a big way last Sunday night and moved within a win of reaching the Promised Land anew.
“Preparing for Ateneo, alam naman namin kung anong klaseng team ang Ateneo. Hindi naman tayo talaga puwedeng mag-relax,” Monteverde said. “We’ve always talked about it that in playing against Ateneo, we should really play good defense.”
Monteverde spoke after UP pulled off a 72-66 victory in Game 1 of their best-of-3 finals showdown for the 85th UAAP basketball tournament crown before 18,211 fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Maroons will try to wrap up the race-to-2 series in Game 2 tomorrow at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and bag a second straight title in a span of seven months.
A deciding third match, if necessary, will be next Monday also at the Big Dome.
UP’s defensive effort, unselfish play, and resolve pleased Monteverde no end.
“Defensively, we started well. Iyong movement ng bola was really there. I like the way the team (was) looking for the open man,” Monteverde said. “They had their run but at least na-sustain naman namin noong bandang fourth (quarter).”
Forward Zavier Lucero, who shone for the Maroons on both ends with 14 points, 11 rebounds and two assists, said he and his teammates will do whatever it takes to retain the crown.
“You know, all of us have the responsibility of going in there and giving our best every single moment we’re on the floor whether it’s one second or 30 minutes. For me, I’m just trying to do that,” Lucero said. “It’s been what I’ve been trying to do throughout my whole career, not just here and I guess especially now, you know, this is it for this season so there’s nothing left to do but to leave it on the floor.
“We gotta a lot of guys, I mean, guys playing through injuries, guys playing sick, and all that. So, I’m glad that all of us were able to come together as one and give it our best.”
