By Kristel Satumbaga
Game Wednesday
(Mall of Asia Arena)
12 noon – UST vs FEU (women’s)
4 p.m. – UST vs UP (men’s)
Surging University of Santo Tomas stands in the way of University of the Philippines setting ablaze Part 2 of the Battle of Katipunan.
UST’s Mark Nonoy, left, drives past UP’s Javi Gomez de Liano and Kobe Paras, back, during the UAAP Season 82 Round 2 match at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, October 16, 2019. UST and UP battle for the remaining finals berth in a rubber match to set up a showdown with undefeated Ateneo. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
And defending champion and early finalist Ateneo awaits where the fresh challenge to its throne would come from – somewhere in the neighborhood or from distant west in España.
Drums will roll and cries of mayhem will ring out when UST and UP knock each other out Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena for the right to face the Blue Eagles in the UAAP Season 82 Finals.
Game is at 4 p.m. with the winner advancing to the best-of-three championship series starting Saturday.
UST guns for a first finals appearance since losing the crown to Far Eastern University in 2015, while UP seeks a second straight finals trip after yielding to Ateneo last season.
Momentum is on the Tigers’ side after they forged a do-or-die last Sunday following an 89-69 thumping of the Maroons at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
UP coach Bo Perasol has vowed to produce their own fire-and-brimstone in matching UST’s intensity.
“We cannot just be the recipients of their aggressiveness. We need to match them. We have to understand that the reason we lost three games this season against UST is because they outhustled us,” Perasol said.
The Tigers unleashed their offensive prowess, particularly behind the arc by unloading 11 three-pointers against the Maroons’ three. UST also got 51 points from its bench, demonstrating its depth of rotation.
UST coach Aldin Ayo expects his players to stick to their tried-and-tested system.
He also hopes his players have recovered physically and mentally.
“It’s only a short preparation kaya importante yung recovery. Talking about mindset, we know that it’s difficult pero kakayanin namin,” Ayo said.
“Before we played against FEU (in the first stepladder round), parang ang hirap eh. Nakakalula kasi ang daming dadaanan. But for us, if you know how to get there and you are willing to do that, don’t be too worried as long as you do your best. Yan ang sinasabi ko sa kanila.”
Expect another thrilling matchup pitting last season’s Most Valuable Player Bright Akhuetie and this year’s MVP Soulemane Chabi Yo. Akhuetie had 18 points and 18 rebounds the last time while Chabi Yo finished with 17 points, 15 boards and four steals.
Leading UP will be Juan Gomez De Liaño, Ricci Rivero and Kobe Paras, who combined for 41 points, against UST’s own trio of Rhenz Abando, Mark Nonoy and Sherwin Concepcion, who merged for 45 points.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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