MANILA, Philippines – One last clash.
All tied up at 1-1 in their best-of-three finals, the La Salle Green Archers and the UP Fighting Maroons go at it one last time as they dispute the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball title at the Araneta Coliseum on Sunday, December 15.
With their backs against the wall, the defending champion Green Archers lived to fight another day after a nerve-racking 76-75 Game 2 escape over the Fighting Maroons last Wednesday, December 11.
In that game, Kevin Quiambao showed why he’s the back-to-back UAAP MVP as he willed La Salle to victory with a game-high 22 points, highlighted by two remarkable triples in the clutch.
As La Salle shoots for its first back-to-back championships since its four-peat run from 1998 to 2001, expect Quiambao to put on another show for the Green and White in what could be his final game in the UAAP before taking his talents to Korea.
Quiambao’s frontcourt partner and fellow Mythical Team member Mike Phillips will also be a player to watch out for after putting up yet another double-double in Game 2 with 18 points and 12 rebounds, including the go-ahead basket with 1:07 left that gave La Salle the 76-75 edge.
On the other side, all eyes will be on graduating point guard JD Cagulangan as he looks to leave UP with another title after sinking the championship-clinching shot for the Fighting Maroons back in Season 84.
But Cagulangan will need more from his teammates, namely their high-flying forward Francis Lopez, who missed four consecutive crucial free throws late in Game 2.
In the series opener, the Maroons pulled off a nail-biter, 73-65, with Cagulangan getting a huge lift from Quentin Millora-Brown.
Will La Salle capture its second straight crown or will UP bring the title back to Diliman?
Game time is 5:30 pm. – Rappler.com
