FINISH the story: That’s all that matters for University of the Philippines.
Seething for almost a year after settling for back-to-back runner-up finishes, the Fighting Maroons have again find themselves in a familiar position – just a win away from their goal of hoisting the championship trophy.
On Wednesday, they hope to finish the job when Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 best-of-three championship series against the La Salle Green Archers is played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
UP coach Goldwin Monteverde would be the first to admit that the past game doesn’t really matter at this point. What's important, according to him, will be the next 40 minutes of the coming game.
READ: Goldwin turns to Abadiano as the going gets tough in UAAP finals
“Game One doesn’t win us a championship,” he said, well aware of State U’s sterling 4-1 Finals record in Game 1s. The succeeding Game 2s, however, are a different matter. UP has a painful 0-4 Finals record in this regard.
Monteverde would like to change this trend.
“We never naman dwell on the past. Right now, part of the process of winning a championship is winning Game One and we got Game One. So now, we’re gonna prepare for Game Two,” he said.
What Monteverde would very much like to have is a repeat of his wards' steadiness, resolve and composure that threw the La Sallians' game plan in disarray.
That was evident in the superb performance of Quentin Millora-Brown who put up 17 points and nine rebounds in the Diliman side’s 73-65 victory in the opener last Sunday.
Then there were Francis Lopez and graduating guard JD Cagulangan, who both played their hearts out, showing how much they want to end the heartaches of the last two UAAP campaign.
READ: QMB, guardian 'Angel' help UP finally solve La Salle riddle
“We’re gonna do our best, lahat ng makakaya namin to get it. And when that game day comes, whatever comes our way, we’re gonna face the challenge there,” said Monteverde, who is looking to give UP its second crown in four seasons.
On the other hand, La Salle is also on familiar territory when it plays UP for the championship. In winning last year's championship, the Green Archers lost Game 1 and then rebounded to beat UP in the next two games to capture the championship.
“We don’t look back at the past. That’s over and done with,” said La Salle coach Topex Robinson. "So we just need to let things go and focus on what we have.”
READ: How Mike Phillips' faith helps him take finals loss differently
The focus for the Green Archers is to rectify the horror second half it had, one which saw soon-to-be-named back-to-back Season MVP Kevin Quiambao limited to a solitary point in the last two frames.
Michael Phillips was just as stellar in the series opener with his 17-11 line, but Robinson knows he needs more from his wards if the Taft side want to push this series to a decider.
“We just have to slug it out. We just have to make sure we will give ourselves a chance to win,” he said of the 5:30 p.m. game.
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