Tigers eye clincher vs Archers will it be a roaring success?

Games today  (Smart Araneta Coliseum)

10 a.m. – DLSU vs NU (women’s finals rubbermatch)

2 p.m. – Awarding Ceremonies

3:30 p.m. – UST vs DLSU (men’s finals, Game Two)

MANILA, Philippines - Seven years after their fairy-tale run to the title, University of Santo Tomas seeks to pull off the ultimate underdog success in the Final Four era of the UAAP basketball wars: That of the first No. 4 seed to win it all.

On the prowl for the coveted crown following a 73-72 squeaker over La Salle in the opener of the season 76 titular series last Wednesday, the Tigers go for the clincher today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

A victory in the 3:30 p.m. Game Two will put the finishing touches to the Thomasians’ amazing rise from the ranks, a team previously on the brink of elimination that beat the odds in the race for Ateneo’s successor as kings of the country’s premier collegiate loop.

UST coach Pido Jarencio, despite joking about drinking an ice-cold beer to celebrate the Game One win, wouldn’t want his wards to get carried away or be pressured with playing for the clincher.

“Basta nothing-to-lose pa rin kami dito. Yung team na ito, upset-conscious kasi galing kami sa ilalim. Basta trabaho lang kami (We’re still in a nothing-to-lose situation here. We are an upset-conscious team working its way to the top from the bottom and we’ll continue to work hard for it),” said Jarencio.

He was back to his old jolly self after crying his heart out in the aftermath of their historic victory over No. 1 and twice-to-beat National U in the Final Four.

“Relaxed kami, ang atmosphere sa amin, walang pressure. Nothing. Ako kahit pano na-redeem ko na ang sarili ko lalo na sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. More blessing ito pag nakuha namin (We have a relaxed atmosphere, no pressure whatsoever, Even myself, I feel I’ve already vindicated myself from criticisms, especially in our position now. It would be a real blessing if we win it altogether,” said Jarencio.

“Basta mas ready pa kami for Game Two. Adjustment lang konti. Baka ma-surprise kayo, maglaro na ako, kakampi ko tatay ni Jeric (For sure, we’ll be more prepared for Game Two, just a little adjustment here and there. Who knows I might play, together with Alvin Teng),” he said in half-jest. 

Survivors of three do-or-die matches against deposed champs Ateneo in the elims and against favored NU in the semis, the Tigers are looking for an encore of their Cinderella performance in 2006, the year they painstakingly clawed their way up to rule as third seed.

DLSU coach Juno Sauler, whose wards absorbed their first setback after nine straight triumphs last Wednesday, is keeping a positive mindset going to the win-or-go-home match.

“Same mindset – to keep improving, to do better next game compared to how we played the first game. Even the micro part of it, possession by possession, just have to improve on every possession we have,” said Sauler.

“We’ll try to force a Game Three,” said Green Archer star Jeron Teng.

Sauler said they need to crank up on their perimeter defense after allowing UST to hit 41.2 percent of their three-points shots, especially Kevin Ferrer who shot an incredible 62.5 percent in the area.

If need be, he said La Salle is also ready to impose its will underneath, via Arnold van Opstal, Norbert Torres and Jason Perkins. The trio helped them to 44 inside points in the paint (against UST’s 14) and a big margin in offensive rebounds (18-7) and second chance points (12-2).

“We wanted Arnold and Jason to get touches. Hopefully in the next game more touches. If UST feels they can defend us on the post one-on-one, that’s fine with us, we’ll keep milking the post. If they collapse, we’ll tell Almond (Vosotros), Jeron and LA (Revilla) to be ready for the kick out,” said Sauler.

La Salle is looking to achieve something that is rarely done in the Final Four era title series – bounce back from a 0-1 deficit to wrest the title. Interestingly, the last come-from-behind title conquest was authored by UST in 2006 over Ateneo. Prior to that, the Tigers had done it at the expense of the Archers in 1994 and 1995 while DLSU got back at UST in their 1999 duel.

Meanwhile, National U Lady Bulldogs and DLSU Lady Archers dispute the women’s tiara in their rubber match at 10 a.m. The year’s top individual performers, led by men’s division MVP Terrence Romeo of Far Eastern U, also get their due recognition in the awarding ceremonies at 2 p.m.