Dream matchups in UAAP Finals

MANILA, Philippines — It’s not just the player matchups that make the UAAP men’s basketball Finals between defending champion La Salle and UP a series “made in heaven.” Aside from the head-to-head face-offs between Kevin Quiambao and Francis Lopez, Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips and JD Cagulangan and Josh David, there is also the battle of wits involving Topex Robinson and Goldwyn Monteverde.

All roads lead to the Smart Araneta Coliseum for Game 1 of the best-of-three Finals today with Game 2 set on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena and if necessary, Game 3 on December 15, back at the Big Dome. The Archers and Fighting Maroons clashed in the semifinals of Season 84 in 2022 with UP, enjoying a twice-to-beat advantage, losing in the first encounter and winning in the next to advance to the Finals and win it all. Last year, they met again, this time in the Finals with La Salle losing Game 1 then taking Games 2 and 3 to clinch. Now, they’re back at each other’s throats, rekindling a rivalry that has become intense and fierce.

Robinson is backed by Caloy Garcia, Gian Nazario, Mon Jose, Oliver Bunyi and JB Sison. Monteverde’s staff consists of Christian Luanzon, Egay Macaraya, Eric Gonzales and Tom Chua. 

In the elims this season, La Salle beat UP twice but the Maroons were without key players. Cagulangan was absent when the Archers won, 77-66, in the first round while Brown was missing when La Salle repeated, 68-56, in the second. La Salle will be without injured Earl Abadam in the Finals. Monteverde started only Gerry Abadiano in both La Salle games, rotating nine players in the first five while Robinson deployed six. UP’s long rotation is evident in the Maroons ranking No. 1 in fastbreak points (11.1), bench points (38), opponents’ turnovers (17.9) field goal percentage (.411), steals (7.9) and turnover points (15.7). In contrast, La Salle is No. 1 in assists (20.8), rebounds (49.9), second chance points (13.6) and three-point percentage (.303). The Archers are No. 1 in offense (74.2) and UP, No. 2 (73.3) but in paint points, UP is No. 1 (33.4) and La Salle, No. 2 (31.4). The stats reflect how even they match up.

How Monteverde intends to defend Quiambao is key to UP’s chances. Aldous Torculas, Lopez, Reyland Torres and Mark Belmonte are candidates to shackle the two-time MVP. One man won’t get the job done so it will be a team effort. Robinson will try to delay the advance of the ball to Brown who’s a handful but his main worry is the wave of shock troopers Monteverde will unleash off the bench. The chess match begins today.