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UP, Ateneo open war for all the UAAP marbles in a series seen to be as close as last one


CARL TAMAYO
Tristan Tamayo’s photo/INQUIRER.net

The University of the Philippines (UP) is in the final stages of its determined journey to pursue history in UAAP men’s basketball, while Ateneo will simply go through every game to reclaim the throne.

Both long-standing shows in the college rounds have achieved their original goal of a season-long run after creating a best-of-three championship series that began Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The defending champion Fighting Maroons and the Blue Eagles have become so familiar with each other from the start, having met a total of seven times this year with UP winning four of which were marked by titles against Ateneo in the off-season. before in May.

What’s probably important in this rematch has less to do with technique and finer points in their brewing rivalry. Everything has to be done with the desire to win it all.

Senegal centre-back Malick Diouf is clearly leaving with the MVP of the season and has the luxury of having two of the best inside executives around him, Carl Tamayo and Zavier Lucero, making this the a challenging match for the Blue Eagles’ frontline featuring Ange Koume, Kai Ballungay and backup big man Geo Chiu.

“May’s Ateneo team has more experience, but I think this team has the underdog DNA, and I don’t think May’s team did. They (the current team) didn’t make any mistakes and they played that way,” said Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin after securing a place in the final after beating the Adamson Falcons in the Finals.

“We need to play that way again on Sunday and every game of these Finals. This team has the determination to prove themselves, because they haven’t yet,” added Baldwin, who led Ateneo to three consecutive UAAP titles in their five consecutive championship appearances.

Sixth straight shot

In his sixth appearance in the title series, the Eagles possess a large following of trusted defenders and marksmen in Forthsky Padrigao, BJ Andrade, Chris Koon and Dave Ildefonso as well as first-place defenders Joshua Lazaro and double pass player Vince Gomez.

But the Maroons also have a team of players in the back that can both defend brutally and score at any moment.

“They are a lot different (from Season 84), only better. I think the way (Cyril) Gonzales is playing right now just deepens that defense, which is a special defensive formation when you have (JD) Cagulangan, (Gerry) Abadiano, (Terrence) Fortea and ( James) Spencer,” Baldwin said.

A first tournament

It’s clear that the Maroons have that stockpile of artillery available after a decisive display when knocking out National University in the semi-finals after placing second in the elimination period.

But while the Eagles of the top flight have won their last seven games, the Maroons have lost two of their last four, including a second-round meeting with Ateneo after beating the latter in the first round. first.

“We are happy to have had another chance to win the championship. That’s really how we deal with the situations that come our way this season,” said UP coach Goldwyn Monteverde, who led the Maroons to their first title in 35 years since the last one. UP won the crown in 1986, said.

“Every game, win or lose, we really try to find things where we can improve and those losses make the team stronger. It makes us communicate more, it makes us notice even the little things that we do,” adds Monteverde.

They are now looking to bring home another title for Diliman, and if the Maroons repeat the Eagles, they could become the first school in league history to win two championships in the same year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. must do and the thing that has never happened. again.

“Honestly, it’s not the toughness you need to have for some of the physicality in UAAP that I think is ridiculous, but the mental toughness to withstand the pressure that you have,” says Baldwin. UP can put on you.

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