Game One of the UAAP Season 86 Finals felt like a dream for University of the Philippines.
The Fighting Maroons found success on both ends of the floor, demolishing the De La Salle Green Archers by 30 points, 97-67, on Wednesday at the packed SM Mall of Asia Arena.
Despite the seemingly flawless performance, head coach Goldwin Monteverde remains focused on areas where UP can improve heading into Game Two on Sunday.
The Fighting Maroons aim to reclaim the title they lost to the Ateneo Blue Eagles last season after securing it in Season 84. Over the past two seasons, UP has struggled to close out the series in Game Two.
“I guess always namang attitude sa team namin is concentrating on the present so mamaya papanuorin namin ulit ang game and as I said a while ago, we’re gonna work on pa rin what needs to be worked on,” said the soft-spoken Monteverde after their win.
“Aware naman kami na hindi naman porket tapos na yung season wala na kaming matututunan. Even in a win, I’m sure may mga lapses kami na dapat bigyan ng pansin at both ends. Doon namin ilalagay yung focus namin,” continued the coach who has brought UP to three straight Finals appearances.
While seeking improvement in Game Two at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, Monteverde acknowledged his team’s effort that resulted in the most lopsided win in Finals history in the Final Four era.
Throughout the elimination round, Monteverde and the team’s seniors emphasized the need for consistency, as they often started or finished games slowly. Regardless of the quarter, they experienced performance dips.
This time, however, the Fighting Maroons maintained their intensity throughout the game, winning all four quarters with a significant 18-point advantage in the second half.
“Sa totoo lang kasi, yung focus naman namin is not only the championship but yung composure namin we’ve been working on that halos the whole season so I think whatever we see now is yung disiplina na we’re trying to establish din sa sarili namin and be at the right mind and right emotions sa ganitong mga games sa amin, importante yun,” said Monteverde.
“For today’s game wala akong masabi sa ginawa ng team in terms of yung working for each stop na gagawin namin and we’re really aware kung ano ang capability ng La Salle so we really dig deep sa loob namin going to this game na talagang ibibigay namin lahat.”
