After securing a 73-65 victory over defending champions De La Salle University in Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 Men’s Basketball Finals, University of the Philippines finds itself just one game away from another UAAP championship.
However, if any school understands how quickly a one-game advantage can disappear, it’s UP.
In Season 85, the Fighting Maroons had a chance to repeat as champions against their Katipunan rivals Ateneo Blue Eagles. They won Game 1, 72-66, but the Blue Eagles took the next two games in the best-of-three series to reclaim the crown.
The following year, UP appeared even more dominant in their Game 1 matchup against La Salle, posting the largest Game 1 win since the start of the UAAP Final Four era with a 97-67 blowout. But La Salle stunned UP in Games 2 and 3 to take the title.
Despite their recent heartbreaking history with Game 1 victories, UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde is focused on the present rather than dwelling on the past.
“We never naman dwell on the past, no? So right now, as I said, part of the process of winning a championship is winning Game 1. So we got Game 1 right now, and we’re going to prepare for Game 2,” said the fourth-year tactician.
“So we’re going to do our best, lahat ng makakaya namin to get it, and when that game day comes, whatever comes our way, we’re going to face the challenge there.”
This year, there is a unique factor that helps Monteverde stay grounded: the presence of one-and-done sensation Quentin Millora-Brown.
The 6-foot-10 Filipino-American big man was exceptional in his first finals appearance, registering 17 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and a block while dominating La Salle in the paint.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Well, ano, you know, lahat naman kami, we expect from each other to give our best and for this game, Q really stepped up to the occasion, being in the finals. Ginawa naman niya lahat ng makakaya niya, and, sakin you know, ang laking bagay sa game kanina,” praised Monteverde.
While Millora-Brown’s performance was crucial, Monteverde knows that winning the championship will require more than just one player. Every member of the team must be ready to contribute. In Game 1, that player was rookie wing Jacob Bayla.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Actually, ano eh, everybody for me has to contribute. Syempre, at both ends. I guess, makikita naman natin how committed everybody is, and a while ago, Jacob [Bayla] off the bench stepped up, especially on the defensive end,” explained Monteverde.
Though Monteverde refuses to let UP’s past finals missteps haunt them, he is adamant about avoiding complacency. With Game 2 looming, he is already focused on ways to improve upon their Game 1 performance.
“Well, I guess, Game 1 doesn’t win a championship. Definitely. Syempre, yun naman talaga yung proseso, to get yung Game 1 and nandito kami. So we’ll just have to focus on yung ano yung mga dapat naming iimprove in terms of lapses during the game kanina and try to prepare pa for the next game,” he said.
As Monteverde and the rest of the Fighting Maroons look to claim their second crown in four years, UP fans can trust that the team will do everything possible to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past when Game 2 tips off.
