THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will be a better team in Game 2.
Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol said this after the defending champion Ateneo Blue Eagles showed poise, focus and composure all throughout to repulse the Diliman-based cagers, 88-79, last Saturday before a sellout crowd in Game 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m very positive about our chances. We need to do our preparations which we did not have in the last few days. I’m quite sure we will be better on Wednesday,” said Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol.
The Fighting Maroons showed their fighting heart and were able to withstand many rallies that the Blue Eagles came up against them. But they lost big man Akhuetie Bright to a knee injury in the third period and eventually lost in the end.
How the Fighting Maroons played in Game 1 made Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin more cautious.
The Maroons are a threat because of the chemistry developed among members of the Fighting Maroons as the season went on.
That’s after UP won four straight knockout games and reached their first finals stint in 32 years.
“Much more determined, much more cohesive,” said Baldwin who noted the changes that the Fighting Maroons displayed since the Blue Eagles faced them in the eliminations.
It was the Blue Eagles’ final rally which came at the right time in the final quarter which sealed UP’s fate.
That was when Angelo Kouame, who had seven points and 13 rebounds, scored on a split charity while Thirdy Ravena unloaded a pair of freebies right after the Maroons came close for the last time, 72-75, with 5:16 to go.
The charities, along with Matt Nieto’s drive off a returning Akhuetie in the last 4:15 gave Ateneo an opportunity to move out of range, 80-72.
The Fighting Maroons, who are in the finals for the first time in 32 years, drew 19 points from June Manzo, and are hoping to equalize on Wednesday.
Team skipper Thirdy Ravena said they will have to be ready for what UP has in store for them.
“Iyun ang nagdala sa kanila sa finals. Iyung laban nila. Iyung puso nila. And we know that they’re not going to make it easy for us in the next game. So, we have to go back and prepare, and just focus as a team,” said Ravena.
Manzo provided some difficult moments for Ateneo when he banged in 12 of his game-high 19 points in the first 20 minutes of the game.
His triple at the close of the half, allowed the Fighting Maroons to catch up, 38-39, at the buzzer.