REIGNING three-time champion Ateneo tries to keep its dynasty going while University of the Philippines seeks to fulfill its date with destiny as the curtain falls on the 84th UAAP basketball tournament amid the pandemic.
Which team succeeds will be known tonight as the Blue Eagles and the Maroons go at it anew in the deciding match of their best-of-3 finals duel before another expected jampacked crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The rubber match is set at 6 p.m., with Ateneo bidding to annex its fourth-straight title, and UP trying to win it all for the first since 1986.
Despite absorbing a numbing 66-69 loss in Game 2 last Wednesday, Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde remained unfazed.
“Our team takes pride. We never give up during games, whatever the score is. Lumalaban kami hanggang dulo. But ang piyesa, I really state it away, would be whatever mistakes we made, nasanay kami na iyon ang gusto naming mangyari sa team na every time after the game we learn,” Monteverde said.
“Whether we win or lose, kumbaga, kung ano mga mali, ano mga lapses, alam namin na doon kami mag i-improve, and definitely we’re gonna work on it,” he added.
The likes of Ricci Rivero, Carl Tamayo, 6-foot-10 Senegalese Malick Diouf, Zavier Lucero, James Spencer, Joel Cagulangan, and Gerry Abadiano are expected to lead the way for UP.
With their backs pushed against the ropes, the Eagles redeemed themselves from a painful 74-81 overtime setback in the finals opener last Sunday.
Ateneo tactician Tab Baldwin said their focus is on the deciding game.
“Heading into Game 3, we have to put everything that happened in Game 2 behind us now and we have a whole new challenge in front of us,” Baldwin said.
“So, whatever work we did, whatever sacrifices we made in the last few days, they were significant. We should be expecting the same thing.”
The Eagles will bank on MVP and 6-foot-10 naturalized Filipino center Ange Kouame, Dave Ildefonso, Gian Mamuyac, BJ Andrade, SJ Belangel, Tyler Tio, and Raffy Verano.
