University of the Philippines has become a fixture in the UAAP Finals, reaching the championship series in each of the last five seasons, from Season 84 through the ongoing Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Across Season 84 to Season 87, the Fighting Maroons captured two championships, with all four Finals appearances going the full distance in a winner-take-all Game 3.
Gerry Abadiano, a constant presence in all five of those Finals runs, made sure that in his final UAAP season, the trend would continue.
This time, however, the challenge was different.
For the first time in those five Finals appearances, UP found itself down 0-1 after dropping Game 1.
In the previous four seasons, the Fighting Maroons had always taken the series opener.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Hindi ko naman inexpect ‘yung ganitong pangyayari. Siguro sa akin kung ano lang ‘yung binigay ng depensa kinukuha ko lang,” Abadiano said after leading UP to a gritty 66-63 Game 2 victory over De La Salle University.
“Mas gutom lang kami manalo ngayon kasi talo kami nung Game 1. Syempre personally last year ko na, ayaw ko naman na sa last year ko hindi ko ibibigay ‘yung pinaka-best ko, pinaka-best namin,” he added.
Abadiano delivered when it mattered most, drilling three clutch midrange jumpers from his favorite spot on the floor to extend UP’s season — and that of his fellow “Maroon 5” teammates — before 22,412 fans at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
The fifth-year guard from Iloilo paced the Fighting Maroons with 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Francis Nnoruka and Rey Remogat also finished in double figures to force a decisive Game 3.
A veteran of multiple winner-take-all Finals, Abadiano is now ready to pass on his experience as UP prepares for the biggest game of the season.
“Personally, syempre ‘yung mga experience na nakuha namin nung mga nakaraang Finals, malaking bagay yun para sa akin at sa ibang teammates ko na maishi-share ko sa kanila kung ano ba talaga ang do or die game,” Abadiano said.
Abadiano, along with Harold Alarcon, Reyland Torres, Janjan Felicilda, and Terrence Fortea, will look to close their UAAP careers as champions once more on Wednesday at 3:30 PM at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the other side, Mike Phillips and company will aim to do the same for the Green Archers. And undoubtedly, both schools will leave everything on the line for the title.
