Game Wednesday
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
3:30 p.m. – UP vs DLSU (Men)
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines and De La Salle will meet for one last time today (Wednesday) in a riveting UAAP Collegiate Men’s Basketball Finals trilogy that has captured the attention of fans nationwide.
The Fighting Maroons are aiming for their first back-to-back championship in school history, while the Green Archers are looking to reclaim the title they won two years ago.
The deciding Game 3, the league’s 17th overall in the Final Four era, is set for 3:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with a full house expected.
UP thwarted De La Salle’s bid to become the first team to sweep a Finals series in their three meetings since Season 85 (2023) with a series-tying 66-63 Game 2 victory last Sunday.
For the fifth consecutive championship series under head coach Goldwin Monteverde, the Fighting Maroons will play a Game 3.
UP has a 2-2 record in Finals deciders.
“From a personal standpoint, it’s every player’s dream. Like, how many players wake up every day knowing they could play in the UAAP and then compete at a high level, you know, like UP, La Salle, Ateneo, and the rest of the schools in the UAAP,” said assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
“So, I’m sure whether it’s a veteran like Gerry (Abadiano) in his fifth season or Francis (Nnoruka) in his rookie season, they would be lying if they said—even Gerry—that they don’t feel a little nervous. But at the same time, there’s an excitement there because, like I said, this has been your dream since you were a kid—whether it’s playing on the road with your friends, trying to beat the buzzer, whatever,” Monteverde’s trusted deputy added.
“So, in Game 3, I’m sure everything will come together in those plays and moments. I think what’s important, regardless of the result, is that they’ll know they gave it their all.”
The highly-touted “Maroon 5,” led by Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, and Terrence Fortea—all of whom have been under Monteverde since high school—hope to end their UAAP careers as winners.
Monteverde has yet to win back-to-back games in the Finals since Season 84’s bubble tournament (2022).
The Green Archers, meanwhile, hope to correct the mistakes from Game 2 to emerge victorious and claim their 11th championship overall.
La Salle is also aiming to become only the second No. 4 seed to win the title since National University’s historic Season 77 (2014) run.
Head coach Topex Robinson urged his players to relish the opportunity to play a Game 3 and leave everything on the floor to achieve their goal.
“We cannot complain, given this opportunity. We have to remember, we’re a young team. We might not have those veterans, but we’re still young as far as being in the finals is concerned. And it’s something to look forward to,” said Robinson, who has yet to lose back-to-back games in the Finals.
“It’s something that every athlete or young coach always dreams of—going into a Game 3, learning from it, giving our best, and really, really enjoying it. It’s going to be something to get excited about,” he added.
Jacob Cortez, the hero of the Green Archers’ 74-70 series-opening win, is a man on a mission.
After being closely guarded by Jacob Bayla during crunchtime in Game 2, Cortez is determined to make it up in Game 3 and capture another collegiate title.
