For all the UAAP glory

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning champion University of the Philippines and rival La Salle tango for one last time to settle their trilogy in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball finale today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The anticipated duel – the third after splitting the first two – reaches the pinnacle at 3:30 p.m. with perhaps an even bigger crowd after a flock of over 18,000 and 22,000 fans in the first two games.

The Green Archers drew first blood in Game 1, 74-70, behind the heroics of Jacob Cortez while Jacob Bayla and Gerry Abadiano took their turns to lead the Maroons to an equalizer in Game 2, 66-63.

Like in their previous two finals that both reached sudden death, the first two games were decided by the slimmest of margins, hinting at complete war in the decider between the two squads that have taken turns lording over the Philippine collegiate landscape.

“One thing you can expect from us is giving our all. Game 3 is every player’s dream. We’d be lying if wala kaming nararamdamang kaba but there’s also the excitement,” said coach Christian Luanzon on behalf of the master tactician Goldwin Monteverde who lost his voice shouting instructions from the bench in Game 2.

“Last year ko na, ayaw ko naman na last year ko at hindi ko ibibigay ‘yung best ko at best namin,” said Abadiano.

In the clutch on Sunday, Abadiano unleashed a 6-0 personal run to preserve UP’s lead while Bayla locked down Cortez in the final possession for the win.

In Game 3, they would need help from Francis Nnoruka, Rey Remogat, Terrence Fortea and Harold Alarcon, who cooled down to five points after a 34-point explosion in Game 1.

The Maroons seek to keep the momentum of their Game 2 win in search of a third title in five straight finals – and fifth overall in history.

The storied Taft program, in its 19th finals (the most in the UAAP history), shoots for its 11th title and second in the last three seasons under coach Topex Robinson.

But only one’s dream will be realized when the final buzzer blares around the iconic Big Dome.

The Green Archers, in a roller-coaster ride marred by injuries and a near elimination before stringing five straight wins to make the finals as the No.4 seed – only the third team in history to do so – hope to realize theirs.

La Salle came so close to fulfilling that in Game 2 but Vhoris Marasigan’s potential title-clinching trey rattled out.

“But then again, that’s the beauty of winning Game 1. We still have a chance,” said coach Topex Robinson. “We gave ourselves a chance to win the championship. We just have to be more patient and keep slugging it out again.”