Dynasty or destiny

UP could’ve easily not been in the UAAP men’s basketball finals this season. The Fighting Maroons would’ve been eliminated if they lost to La Salle in the semis at the MOA Arena last Friday and from when the fourth quarter started with the Archers up by 13, it didn’t look like there would be a Battle of Katipunan. But coach Goldwin Monteverde’s squad refused to roll over and die.

Monteverde gambled by sending Carl Tamayo, nursing four personals, early in the payoff period. Tamayo fired 12 of his 19 points in the last quarter as UP outscored La Salle, 27-10, in the final 10 minutes to win it, 78-74. The Archers took six more attempts from the field but shot only 15.8 percent to UP’s 61.5 percent in the fourth frame. UP’s stifling press led to La Salle’s meltdown in the homestretch. A surprise contributor was UP’s Harold Alarcon who hit 14 points in 26:30 minutes after averaging 2.4 points and eight minutes in the elims. It was only Alarcon’s third start in 16 games.

UP backer Patrick Gregorio called it a miracle win. “We’re still dazed,” he said several minutes after the last buzzer. Gregorio received a text from Ateneo’s No. 1 patron Manny V. Pangilinan congratulating the Maroons for “such grit and determination” and remarking that “Ateneo should hear the UP message.” Gregorio said UP’s top supporters Gov. Jonvic Remulla and Robina Gokongwei-Pe were overwhelmed by the victory. If it was destiny that brought UP to the finals, it is dynasty that Ateneo has in mind in their best-of-three affair that begins at the MOA Arena today. The Blue Eagles are looking to seal a four-peat while the Maroons are hoping to end a long championship drought. UP hasn’t won a title since Season 49 in 1986-87 and it’s now season 84.

The coaching confrontation is quite interesting. Monteverde, a decorated juniors coach, is in his seniors debut and matched against Tab Baldwin, a seasoned tactician with glowing credentials from the World Championships to the Olympics. Baldwin is a master of strategy while Monteverde reaches out to his players’ heart. Only one team has beaten Ateneo this season and UP did it in the second round of eliminations via an 84-83 squeaker. The Eagles took down the Maroons, 90-81, in the first round. Ateneo had easy passage to the finals, ousting FEU, 85-72, while UP needed a second chance to scuttle La Salle. Entering the Last Dance, Ateneo is well-rested from three full days off. UP, in contrast, is reporting for work with only one day of rest.

At the end of the elims, Ateneo was No. 1 in offense (83.2) and UP, No. 2 (78.9). The Eagles were also No. 1 in field goal percentage (44.8) and UP No. 2 (41.3) and No. 1 in assists (19.4) and UP No. 2 (18.6). The Maroons were No. 1 in second chance points (13.6) and Ateneo, No. 4 (9.8) and No. 1 in turnover points (14.6) and Ateneo, No. 4 (12.4). Five UP players averaged at least nine points a game compared to three for Ateneo, reflecting a more balanced offense. But the Eagles’ execution on both ends put them in a class above the rest.