ONE to go.
The La Salle Green Archers are a step away from back-to-back title conquests when they battle the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Game 3 of the 80th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball finals but coach Aldin Ayo has asked the team not to celebrate just yet.
“As coach said, don’t celebrate unless it’s finished. Hindi kami mag-stop and we will work for our next game,” said one of the team’s top performers Ricci Rivero, who was named part of the UAAP Mythical Five.
For the Ateneo Blue Eagles, lessons have been learned after their disappointing loss in Game 2. They will have to be wary of the defending champion La Salle Green Archers’ championship experience when they battle in Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I’m not so sure it’s youth as much as it is I think La Salle’s championship experience. And our lack of it may have shown. Not sure whether that’s youth or just being in the cauldron of championship games and learning and understanding what it requires of you when the pressure comes on. They were better today when the pressure really came on,” said Blue Eagles coach Tab Baldwin.
Earlier, the National University Lady Bulldogs will fight for the crown against the University of the East Lady Warriors in game 2 of the women’s championship.
In Game 2, scoring ace Rivero, who was shackled by four fouls in the first half, Andrei Caracut and Aljun Melecio teamed up in helping the Green Archers turn the tables on the Blue Eagles.
Caracut, a third year veteran of the squad, banged in 13 points, including seven crucial points that provided fuel for La Salle’s successful effort to tie their best-of-three title series at one-all.
He and Rivero led a crucial run in the third period, knocking in a three-pointer and a three-point play that put La Salle within reach of the Ateneo lead, 54-56,with 4:03 left.
So far, the Blue Eagles have won two championships out of four finals encounter that have reached a decisive Game 3 since 2001.
La Salle prevailed over Ateneo in 2001, before the Blue Eagles wrested it from the Green Archers the following year.
In 2006, the University of Santo Tomas Tigers won it over the Blue Eagles in a deciding Game 3 showdown, before Ateneo took it from the UE Warriors in another three-game series in 2009.
The Green Archers have gone through three finals series in the past that went the distance.
The last time they did was in 2013, when the fought off the UST Tigers for the crown.
The 1987 and the 2017 finals will be a memorable one for the Nieto family.
Back in 1987, Joseph “Jet” Nieto, the father of the twins Matthew and Mike, led a decisive run that won the Blue Eagles the crown.
It started with a triple in the beginning of the last period. And it was baskets from Gilbert Reyes and Nieto that brought the Blue Eagles closer, 92-86.
In season 80, the Nieto twins are at the forefront of the Blue Eagles to win their ninth crown.
On the other hand, the Green Archers have the Rivero brothers, Ricci and Prince, to help them claim their 10th.
Baldwin said the squad will remain hopeful in when they plunge into action for the last time this season against the Green Archers.
“I still think that’s a positive. I think that helps and hopefully it will help enough to be one of the factors that gets us across the finish line,” said Baldwin.
Historically, no team in 30 years has managed to come back from big deficit and win a finals game.
But, that’s what happened in season 80 when the Blue Eagles squandered a 21-point lead, and bowed to the Green Archers, 92-83, in Game 2 last Wednesday.
The last time this happened was in 1987 when the Blue Eagles rallied back from a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win their first ever title in the league with a 94-92 triumph over the University of the East Warriors.
Games Today
10:30AM – UE VS NU
(Women’s Game 2)
3:30PM – Ateneo VS DLSU
(Men’s Game 3)