THREE wins.
That’s all the University of the Philippines needs to finish the story after failing to do so in the past two seasons.
And as the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four begins, falling short anew is a feeling the Fighting Maroons want to avoid at all costs.
Good thing then that State U is ready in all aspects - from physical to mental and from emotional to practical - to march forward, thanks to the rough patch it had to persevere through.
Coach Goldwin Monteverde, who never settles and sees his side as a consistent work-in-progress, views the maroon-and-green's late lull in the eliminations, including back-to-back losses, to actually be necessary.
“Kahit anong sitwasyon naman, you have to fight hard and try to overcome whatever challenges we face,” he said, as UP still secured the twice-to-beat advantage for finishing No. 2 with its 11-3 card.
“For us, this elimination round got us ready kung ano man yung mga haharapin namin, and it made us realize that whatever circumstances there are, kumapit lang kami sa isa’t-isa at may mangyayari pa ring maganda.”
Led by Mythical Team member JD Cagulangan alongside Quentin Millora-Brown and Francis Lopez, the Fighting Maroons have proven to be a force to be reckoned with in barging into the semifinals for the sixth straight season – now the longest active streak in the UAAP.
Hungry UST
But out to write a story of its own is University of Santo Tomas, which is back in the Final Four for the first time in five years.
Coach Pido Jarencio acknowledged that reaching this level after seizing the three-seed with a 7-7 card is already a milestone for this rising Growling Tigers squad, but who in their right mind will say that they’re happy with just reaching this echelon?
UST may be the underdogs in the 3:30 p.m. match-up at Smart Araneta Coliseum, but that doesn’t mean that the result is a foregone conclusion.
After all, the championship is still the goal.
“Magandang stepping stone, naumpisahan na natin, pero trabaho na ulit,” he said. “Parang David and Goliath yan. Wala namang imposible. Bilog ang bola. Malay mo, makatsamba tayo basta pagtrabahuan lang ng players.”
And it’s the mentality that the likes of Mythical Team member Nic Cabanero flanked by Forthsky Padrigao and Mo Tounkara have on their minds, as they try to force one more game and shoot for the upset.
UP has won the past two meetings this season with the same narrative, running away with the victory late, as seen in its 81-70 triumph last Oct. 2 followed by an 83-73 escape on Oct. 13.
But the last time the two teams met in the semis, back in 2019 when State U also had the playoff incentive, the Growling Tigers actually won back-to-back to advance to the finals.
Jarencio, though, had a short quip on this upcoming 2-3 duel: “Gawa tayo ng bagong storya.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
