UP seeks Finals berth as it battles UST on Sunday
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Sat, 09 Nov 2019 06:43:08 +0000
UNIVERSITY of the Philippines (UP) seeks a return trip to the finals of Season 82 University Athletic Association of the men’s basketball tournament on Sunday when it goes up against University of Santo Tomas (UST) at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Fighting Maroons, who are enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage in the stepladder semifinals, battle the Growling Tigers at 4 p.m. A win will give the Fighting Maroons another chance to face defending champion Ateneo De Manila University in the best-of-three championship series.
UP closed out the elimination round with a 9-5 win-loss record.
Third year Fighting Maroons coach Bo Perasol said they were positive in the game against UST despite coming off a loss to the Blue Eagles, who swept the two-round eliminations that gave them an outright finals’ berth.
“I try to erase right away that bitter loss that we had against Ateneo because we need to focus on the positives that we had. I think we did pretty well to be No. 2,” said Perasol, who will be relying on mythical team member Kobe Paras and last season’s Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie.
“I told them that we have to honor our position by preparing really hard because it’s not a sure thing that we’re going to the finals,” said Perasol.
Paras is averaging 17.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1,9 assists, 1.3 blocks and 1.2 steals in the elimination round for the Fighting Maroons.
UST beat Far Eastern University, 81-71, at the start of the stepladder Final Four last Wednesday.
Growling Tigers coach Aldin Ayo said they would not underestimate the Fighting Maroons whom they defeated twice in the eliminations.
“We’re going to take it one game at a time,” said Ayo. “Some will say that we are 2-0 against UP but they are a different team right now. What happened in the eliminations, it won’t matter anymore.”
Season MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo, Brent Paraiso, Renzo Subido and Rookie of the Year Mark Nonoy will try to help UST live another day.
Yo avaraged 16.9 points, 14.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists while Nonoy emerged as the best rookie averaging 10 points, 3.8 boards and 2.3 assists in the elimination round. JOSEF T. RAMOS