Mainit na labanng Ateneo at La Salle

Laro Ngayon (Moa Arena)Seniors Finals

4 pm La Salle vs. Ateneo (Game 1, best-of-3)

MANILA, Philippines — Kahit nakalasap ng ka-biguan sa huling laban nila sa eliminations na nasundan pa ng kabiguan sa unang laban nila sa Final Four kontra Far Eastern University,  tahasang  sinabi ni Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin na handa na ang kanyang Blue Eagles na lumaban kontra archrival nilang De La Salle sa UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament finals.

Uumpisahan ang best of 3 series ng dalawang koponan ganap na alas-4:00 ngayong hapon sa MOA Arena sa Pasay.

“We’re a better team now. As simple as that. We’ve proven we’re a better team all year long,” wika ni  Baldwin.

Tiwala ang beteranong  mentor pagkaraang muntik ng mawalis ng kanyang  Blue Eagles  ang Green Archers sa  elimination kung hindi lamang sa mga  endgame lapses nila noong second round na aniya’y wala sa katangian ng kanyang team noong isang taon.

“I think apart from one big offensive lapse one period against La Salle, we’ve proven as good as they are — we had a terrible offensive lapse in the fourth quarter of the second game and it cost us the game,” ayon kay Baldwin.

“I don’t expect that my team will do that again. But we have to get ourselves into a winning position first.”

Dagdag pa rito ayon sa  Blue Eagle mentor ang ipinamalas na karakter ng kanyang koponan sa do-or-die game nila ng FEU.

“FEU was so tough. But we got there in the end, so kudos to the guys. Their character was showing through late in the game and I’m proud of them.”

Sinabi rin ni  Baldwin na nakahanda na silang sumalang sa championship at ito ang  kanilang patutunayan.

“We didn’t play this season just to win in the semis. We played this season to go as far as this team is capable of going.”

Tila naramdaman at nakita naman ng Green Archers ang matinding laban na haharapin kaya ginawa nilang  “closed door “ ang kanilang ensayo habang off limits din sa interview ang kanilang mga players upang makapag-focus sa finals.

Pero sa naunang pa-nayam kay Archers coach Aldin Ayo,  sinabi nitong  focus lamang sila sa game plan partikular sa depensa at wala silang anumang motivation kundi ang mapanatili ang kanilang titulo.

“Wala namang bang motivation kung hindi championship. Walang hugot o ano. Championship lang ang pinag-uusapan namin,” ani Ayo.