THE rematch of the last two finals in the Playtime Cares Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup will come one round early this year, as the University of the Philippines and La Salle’s collision course has been set for the semifinals.
READ: La Salle, UP all set for semis showdown in Filoil Preseason
With a return to the finals at stake, each and every one from either side is eager to fight for the right to play just a little longer in the preseason tournament.
While the Green Archers are hopeful of getting their lick back for their championship woes in the last two years, the Fighting Maroons are looking to bounce back from an elimination round defeat.
And perhaps among State U's players, none is hungrier than resurgent big Gani Stevens.
Looking back at his four-point outing in their 106-99 defeat to La Salle in the elims, the message for Stevens is crystal clear.
“I think this time around, I gotta be way more aggressive,” he said. “I think last La Salle game, I didn't contribute as much as I wanted to. I want to be there more offensively and defensively for my team and just to support my guys.”
Gani got it going
The good news is that the Fil-American center's play has picked up at just the right time, as he has averaged 18 points and nine rebounds in UP's last two games.
Opposite La Salle's frontcourt featuring Mike Phillips, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo, however, he acknowledges he his work cut out for him.
“Gotta play physical. They have some big guys, so you know they’re gonna be ready, but I trust my other bigs, you know. I think I'm gonna be ready,” he said, while mentioning the maroon-and-green's own rotation of talented bigs in Francis Nnoruka, Mark Belmonte, Miguel Yniguez, Sean Alter, and Seven Gagate.
And aside from holding the fort, Stevens also wants to make things easier for their backcourt, giving the likes of Gerry Abadiano and Harold Alarcon more room to operate.
“We know that we're going to have to be there to take some of the load off of our guards, and then also, you know, we got to anchor down the middle and protect the paint. So I think we're ready for that challenge, we're just ready to go,” he added.
Without a doubt, the Fighting Maroons and Green Archers will go the extra mile to overtake one another in the latest installment of their classic match-ups.
And this time around, Stevens will stand strong as UP's last line of defense in the face of La Salle's undefeated march towards the title.
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