By MARK REY MONTEJO
Games Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
Game 2 Women’s Finals
1 p.m. – NU vs UST – 1 p.m. (NU leads 1-0)
Game 2 Men’s Finals
5:30 p.m. – UP vs La Salle (UP leads 1-0)
No guts, no glory
The one who has the bigger heart and unwavering resolve shall win in this battle of two equally talented teams in University of the Philippines and La Salle.
And with the two aiming for contrasting results – one aiming for complete redemption and the other looking to repeat history, an all-out war is expected in Game 2 of the Season 87 men’s basketball Finals at Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Now at full strength, the Fighting Maroons have the crown within reach after its 73-65 Game 1 win and they have the chance at fully claiming it in the 5:30 p.m. affair.
UP is looking to exorcise the ghost of the past when it also led 1-0 in last season’s finals but still ended up losing the crown to La Salle after dropping the last two games of the series.
Out to change their fortunes, however, is big man Quentin Millora-Brown, who was the primary perpetrator in UP ending its four-game losing skid to La Salle. He had an all-around effort of 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block.
“Just being ready to make adjustments on the fly is the biggest piece to this. They’re going to make their adjustments,” said the 24-year-old Millora-Brown. “After this game, we need to be ready to make our adjustments to what they doI think that’s what it’s about.”
Rookie Jacob Bayla also became the biggest revelation of the series, putting up a solid defensive effort against back-to-back MVP Kevin Quiambao –much to the delight of the UP fans and to the horror of DLSU fans in the 16,202 fans.
Repeating the Game 1 win, however, is easier said than done, with the defending champion La Salle certainly not going to roll over and just die with Quiambao still out to lead the assault for the Green Archers.
For one, history is on the side of La Salle, which managed to snare the crown last season despite UP also drawing the first blood in their finals series.
But for head coach Topex Robinson, La Salle cannot afford to think of that and just focus on the task at hand.
“We just need to let things go and focus on what we have, the players are different now we have a younger team, the team that played last season is gone and have moved forward,” said Robinson.
“So samin we just have to slug it out, yun lang naman masasabi namin,” he added.
Meanwhile, NU Lady Bulldogs for a sweep in the women’s basketball division as they go for a title-clinching victory over the defending titlists UST Golden Tigresses in their 1 p.m. showdown.
Came from a 72-71 escape in Game One, Ann Pingol, Camille Clarin and Angel Surada banner anew the Jhocson-based group as they eye to regain the diadem against the Tigresses, who are led by Kent Pastrana, Tacky Tacatac and Bridgette Santos.
