The University of the Philippines is on the verge of one other UAAP males’s basketball title.
After successful over the Ateneo de Manila University, 72-66, in Game 1 of the Season 85 Finals on Sunday, the Diliman-based squad wants to shut out the collection in Game 2 on Wednesday night time on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We have to focus on our next game,” said UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde after winning the first of the best-of-three game series.
Zavier Lucero, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in Game 1, hopes not to have another close game against their Katipunan neighbors.
“I hope we are able to put this away with a superb margin. If we are able to keep away from any heroics, that may be good. Whether it’s shut or not, we have now to be prepared for that. We need to be centered and calm in that and have the ability to come out on high,” Lucero said.
Ateneo, on the other hand, hopes some of their key players such as Dave Ildefonso and Kai Ballungay will step up for the blue-and-white.
“Dave is a professional. But undoubtedly we glance to have Dave get cleaner seems. We have been hoping that he’ll have the ability to shoot higher subsequent sport,” Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga said. “The psychological facet is the important thing for Kai. This is his first finals look. He’s one of many gamers that we have now to get going,” he added.
Prior to the Finals, particular person awardees of the lads’s basketball event might be acknowledged, with UP’s Malick Diouf to be formally named as Season 85 Most Valuable Player.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
