The De La Salle Green Archers force a do-or-die Sunday Game 3 against the UP Fighting Maroons with the hopes of finishing UAAP Season 87 as back-to-back men’s basketball champions.
We will have a Game 3 indeed.
The La Salle Green Archers on Wednesday stood firm in a tight Game 2 over the UP Fighting Maroons 76-75 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay to force a do-or-die Game 3 in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball finals.
The defending champs showed poise in what seemed to be an impending sweep by the Fighting Maroons, before eventually pulling out after crucial missed free throws from both sides.
Kevin Quiambao showed the way with a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds, and four assists off the Archers’ bench, while Mike Phillips continued to hold it down low with 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Championship heart
For a while, it seemed that UP would use another strong second half to dethrone the Archers, waxing hot in the third quarter before pulling away in the fourth. JD Cagulangan found his shot along with Gerry Abadiano coming out of halftime, while Quentin Millora-Brown was also getting his share of open looks.
UP would remain in control for much of the final period. However, it was also here that the Archers’ championship composure was on full show. Down 73-66 after a Francis Lopez deuce at the 4:33 mark, the defending champs slowly clawed back, punctuated by back-to-back Kevin Quiambao triples to complete an 8-0 turnaround.
There were also the cardiac final seconds, which was marked by missed freebies from Mike Phillips, Quiambao and UP’s Francis Lopez.
“I was just really holding on to our faith. We were telling ourselves that if it’s going to be given to us, it’s gonna be given. But we just kept on holding onto each other, we were making mistakes but these guys were just supporting each other. I think it’s really the bond that was set,” said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson.
“We just tried to hold on to those experiences. I guess heading into this game, we were clear with what we wanted as individuals and what we wanted as a team. Again, the win was just given to us. We’re just grateful and happy that we get to play on Sunday. We’re just so excited for that game.”
KQ’s takeover
Hours after formally securing his second-consecutive MVP plum, Kevin Quiambao would end his Wednesday night by coming through in the clutch for La Salle. As mentioned, the do-it-all forward hit the go-ahead triples that virtually forced the do-or-die Game 3 against UP.
But it’s not like KQ was flat-out dominant for much of the game. Again, the Fighting Maroons had the personnel to slow him down which included Lopez, Reyland Torres, and Game 1 hero Jacob Bayla.
However, the (still) reigning MVP found ways to come through this time. Making his feat more impressive, KQ also came off the bench when asked by his coaches.
“When we were planning about how we’re going to approach Game 2, there were a lot of discussions among the coaches. I guess the moment I just told KQ ‘KQ you’re not going to start’. He said ‘Okay coach’,” Robinson recalled postgame.
“That’s already a sign of somebody that trusts the system, trusts the person that’s calling it. You don’t hear any questions from him, he’s not going to do anything. I mean, no reaction. He said, kung ano ‘yung makakabuti sa team, dun ako coach.
“And it goes with everybody…we kind of always go at it, but time and time again, if somebody from the outside tries to hurt us, we’re always going to be a united front,” shared the champion mentor.
Newfound confidence
Simply put, Game 2 was a come-from-behind victory for La Salle, who seemed on the brink of getting swept by the equally-hungry Fighting Maroons. Yet with poise and maturity, they fought back to rattle their familiar foes, which set up a winner-takes-all clash on Sunday, December 15 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
And as they turn to their Game 3 preparations, it goes without saying that the Archers’ confidence is at an all-time high heading into Sunday’s matchup.
“Just being a part of that [Game 3] is something so special. Being able to do it not only as a Lasallian, but as a Filipino in the Philippines, which is the best basketball country I’ve been a part of, just enjoy it. I’m so excited and I’m more excited because I’m going into it with a band of brothers, a band of coaches that will never abandon me and I will never abandon them,” Phillips said.
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.