MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
None of the previous results between La Salle and University of the Philippines (UP) matter when Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament gets going.
Even two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao of the Green Archers knows that. All that matters is who will come in more prepared for Sunday’s clash at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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“I think, coming to this finals, right now it’s back to 0-0,” Quiambao said as La Salle renews its rivalry against the Fighting Maroons that started last season. “No matter what the history of our past games in round one and two, this is a new game.”
Game 1 kicks off at 5:30 p.m., with desire also expected to play a huge role between two powerhouse clubs reeking with talent.
“We need to be more focused, [especially] on the details,” added Quiambao.
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But La Salle is the overwhelming favorite coming into that title-bout with the crown on their heads and a four-game winning streak against the State U dating back to their series last season. UP last defeated the Archers in Game 1 of that same series with a whopping 30-point beatdown.
And the Maroons, who ended a 36-year championship drought in Season 84 before two consecutive bridesmaid finishes in the years after, took that personally and made it their driving force this season.
“For us, what happened last season, we took that to heart starting our first practice this year,” UP coach Goldwin Monteverde said. “Now that we are [back in the Finals] the good thing is that we start 0-0. It’s a best-of-three series.”
“Our defeat last season was really painful and we thought about it every day during practice, in every game that [loss] served as motivation,” UP guard Reyland Torres said.
The first time that the two schools met again this season, the defending champion came home with a 68-56 decision.
La Salle won again in the second round, 77-66. INQ
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