By Jerome Lagunzad
Game Today
(Smart-Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. – Ateneo vs La Salle
(Best-of-3 Finals)
Game 1: Ateneo 76, La Salle 70
Game 2: La Salle 92, Ateneo 83
(Series tied at 1-1)
La Salle, Ateneo in KO duel.
And it all comes down to this one final battle.
Defending champion La Salle and Ateneo are expected to give it their all with everything on the line in a winner-take-all match for the UAAP Season 80 basketball crown.
Tip off is at 3:30 p.m., with a sellout crowd expected to witness what promises to be a no-holds-barred encounter between two bitter rivals who are determined to push each other to their limit for the tournament’s ultimate prize.
“It’s gonna be one hell of a match,” said skipper Kib Montalbo, who provided the defensive spunk in the Green Archers’ 92-83 victory in Game 2 last Wednesday when they overhauled a big 21-point advantage built by the Blue Eagles in the first half.
“We’re gonna give it all this Sunday (today). It’s the last game (of the season). For sure they’re gonna give it their all.”
“We can’t wait (for Game 3),” echoed Ateneo’s ace wingman Thirdy Ravena.
For sure, emotions will continue to run high for all the protagonists involve – and their respective throng of ardent supporters who’ve been going at it too that virtually turns the sprawling Big Dome into a modern day version of The Colosseum.
So far, La Salle, aching to complete a back-to-back bid and clinch its 10th overall title, remains invincible at the Quezon City-based venue, having won all of its first nine matches.
“We’re gonna play wherever the venue is. Siguro parang timing lang na Araneta ‘yun Game 3,” said Green Archers sophomore Ricci Rivero.
Reigning back-to-back league MVP Ben Mbala, arguably the ultimate factor in this finals series, admitted the Green Archers still have no reason to be complacent going up against the Blue Eagles who are still licking the wounds of a sorry defeat.
“When you play Ateneo, there is no underdog, there is no one having the upper hand. Everyone can blow you out, everyone can play like the champions,” stressed the 6-foot-7 Cameroonian.
“So when you go there, you have to give your everything. The crowd is crazy and everyone wants to win it. Everyone is diving for the ball, and it’s pretty crazy. But you still have to find a way to stay focused and do what you have to do.”
That’s also the same mindset that Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin wants to see from the Blue Eagles, who took the bloody opener, 76-70, last Nov. 25 and appeared on track for a shocking series sweep, only to crumble in the face of the Green Archers’ fightback.
“The mentality has changed already. We get rid of that loss in the locker room after the game. We move on. We have Game 3 and that’s all we think about. It’s winner takes all now,” said the Kiwi-American mentor.
If they want to help the Blue Eagles end a five-year title drought, big men Isaac Go, Vince Tolentino, Raffy Verano and Nigerian Chibueze Ikeh should find enough ways to contain Mbala and their more heralded Archers counterparts that include Santi Santillan, Abu Tratter and Prince Rivero.
