JD Cagulangan (No. 12) and the undermanned Maroons should pull the rug from below Ange Kouame and the Blue Eagles.—PHOTOS COURTESY OF UAAP MEDIA
All the way down to the ultimate dozen or so days of the 12 months, there’s no becoming finish to 2 UAAP seasons crammed contained in the final 12 months.
College of the Philippines (UP), searching for to develop into the primary group to win two titles inside a 12 months, and Ateneo, making an attempt to reclaim the title it held onto with a vise grip the three earlier seasons, will go at it one ultimate time for all of the proverbial marbles on Monday in Recreation 3 of the lads’s basketball Finals at historic Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
And relying on the place one sits—on who one is rooting for—no group appears to have a looming edge over the opposite within the 6 p.m. recreation even if the defending champion Maroons will probably be enjoying minus Zavier Lucero.
“There’s strain on our group, there’s strain on us,” Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin mentioned. “However once I mentioned we have now the DNA of underdogs, I wasn’t joking. After all, we’re not gonna to present something away. We’re gonna come to battle. And now I feel we have now each cause on the planet to imagine.’’
The Eagles may have some momentum coming into the decider, having gained Recreation 2 with authority, 66-56.
Dealing with strain
However Baldwin stays cautious of the Maroons, by no means thoughts if Lucero—UP’s Recreation 1 hero—will probably be cheering from the bench due to a left ACL tear sustained in a noncontact play within the ultimate 8:31 of Recreation 2.
“I’ve been in a couple of Recreation 3s. There’s a whole lot of strain. [When] you see that UP crowd, that’s a whole lot of strain. I’m glad I coach Ateneo. The best way they do issues over there, there’s gonna be some warmth in that home,’’ mentioned Baldwin.
UP’s depth and expertise will play a pivotal position, with season Most Invaluable Participant Malick Diouf, Carl Tamayo and a extremely environment friendly backcourt led by JD Cagulangan needing to come back to the rescue and plug all of the holes.
“I talked to my teammates about our expertise and instructed them that we should give every little thing that we have now and battle till the tip,’’ mentioned Tamayo, whose splendid season rewarded the proficient energy ahead a legendary 5 choice. “I’m assured within the skill of my teammates.’’
Getting higher
The Maroons gained the season-opener in dramatic model, 72-66, earlier than they have been held to their lowest output below the Goldwyn Monteverde watch in Recreation 2.
However Baldwin—the veteran that he’s—is aware of that there’s no use wanting again on the first two video games of the collection, and even how tied the matchup between the 2 colleges for the 12 months is.
Issues definitely gained’t be pleasant till after Recreation 3 for Tab Baldwin (left) and Goldwyn Monteverde.
“We all know that’s an excellent basketball group, an excellent teaching employees. They make great changes. We count on that there will probably be some changes and it’s again to the drafting board,’’ mentioned Baldwin, who has thus far introduced the Blue Eagles to 6 consecutive Finals appearances.
“They’ll attempt to anticipate our adjustment, as a result of we’ll make changes regardless that we gained [Game 2],” Baldwin mentioned. “It gained’t be the identical template, and they’re going to [know] and we’ll attempt to anticipate that.”
Whereas Lucero being unavailable appears to place UP at an obstacle, Monteverde believes that the loss final Wednesday solely made his fees higher.
“These losses, they made the group stronger. It made us talk extra and take a look at even the little issues that we have to work on,” Monteverde mentioned.
“That is one other probability to win a championship and work with what we have now.’’
Monteverde talked with nothing however enterprise in thoughts. Baldwin, in the meantime, desires to take a much more relaxed strategy.
“I feel it’s going to be a wild recreation on Monday. I want I may play, however I’ll foul out fairly fast. It will likely be enjoyable. Let it’s no matter it’s,’’ mentioned Baldwin. INQ
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