WELL, what about that?
In a season where the words "parity" and "ultra-competitiveness" were routinely thrown around, we end up with the same, old story.
The University of the Philippines. De La Salle University. Round 3.
READ: La Salle leashes top dog NU to set up another finals date with UP
It's a prediction from the preseason that became reality - but not one many anticipated when the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament rolled along.
Remember, their slow starts led to many doubting their capabilities, with the Fighting Maroons losing their first two games and the Green Archers starting off 2-3.
Vulnerabilities were also evident all around.
UP had trouble integrating Rey Remogat to its lineup, while grasping for that go-to guy in its first season without JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, and Quentin Millora-Brown.
La Salle had it tougher with two-time UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao gone, as it took time for blue-chip transferees Jacob Cortez, Mason Amos, Kean Baclaan, and Luis Pablo to blend in with the system.
Making matters worse were the MCL injuries to Amos and Baclaan midway through the eliminations, on top of the suspensions handed to the likes of Vhoris Marasigan and EJ Gollena.
While State U slowly got its groove going, earning 10 wins in 11 games to lock up the second-seed behind the might of Harold Alarcon, the green-and-white had to fight for its life and even slipped to a 6-6 record.
Fortunately, the Taft side pulled off big victories in their last two outings, including a pulsating 78-72 conquest of archrival Ateneo to clinch the last Final Four seat.
Finalists, yet again
UP would then take care of business and dispose of three-seed University of Santo Tomas, 82-81, last Wednesday, while La Salle did it the hard way, overcoming a twice-to-beat disadvantage against powerhouse top dog National U, including a 78-73 Game Two win on Saturday.
And then, we find ourselves in this very same position, with the last two teams standing being the protagonists of the last two championship series.
With the Fighting Maroons and the Green Archers splitting the last two finals, who will emerge triumphant and break the tie?
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