PREVIEW: La Salle, UP Clash in UAAP Finals Rematch
There were many unpredictable things in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
No one saw that UE five-game win streak happening. Ditto for the Adamson Final Four appearance (unless you’re Gab, the Sultan of Sando), the roller-coaster ride of UST’s 7-7 elims, and the resounding victories of NU over the two eventual finalists.
Heck, I had a blast watching FEU and Ateneo showing glimpses of impeccable system ball to close out Round 2. I didn’t really see that coming, either.
But now, we have arrived at the outcome that just about everybody foresaw at the onset of Season 87—perhaps even as early as the end of last season.
DLSU and UP are back in the Finals. Color me unsurprised!
While the participants in this year’s championship round are more predictable than Cubao traffic in December, the outcome remains up in the air. At one point, I was quite convinced of how things would play out in this series. But since then, some not-so-newsworthy things happened: a lengthy winning streak coming to an end, a few players rediscovering their power to catch fire.
I might be making mountains out of molehills there, but to me, those granular details are enough to convince me that the Finals will be the total opposite of lopsided. How exactly will this best-of-3 play out? There are five variables most worthy of our attention.
What Can Cagulangan, Alarcon, and Abadiano Do for UP?
A grammar nazi will look at this question and think that I’m asking a question about capability. Just for funsies, let’s answer that: Harold Alarcon can manufacture a multitude of midrange shots, Gerry Abadiano is a tenacious defender who might as well be breaching privacy laws, and JD Cagulangan is an exceptional facilitator with a penchant for stepback daggers.
There’s a difference, however, between skills that are stored and skills that are unbottled. Though Alarcon has put up 33 and 16 in his last two games, he’s been underwhelming on the offensive end many times in the elims. Similarly, Abadiano hasn’t maximized his defensive grit because his lackluster shooting percentage this season makes Goldwyn Monteverde think twice about putting him on the floor. As for Cagulangan, the injury bug derailed his MVP-level production in Round 1, and he hasn’t reached that level since.
Against DLSU, the collective efforts of this trio will be pivotal. These three holdovers of the Season 84 championship squad have to play their parts to perfection in order for UP to have a legit crack at the ring. Any missing element here—midrange production, on-ball defense, clutch shooting—will be a glaring weakness that the Green Archers’ talented backcourt will pounce on.
Which Supporting Cast Will Impose Its Will?
Topex Robinson deserves plenty of credit for the strong team culture on the Green Archers’ side and, to the delight of La Salle fans, this culture has translated into tangible outcomes on the hardcourt.
There’s no denying that Kevin Quiambao and Mike Phillips are the leaders of this squad, but DLSU has gone 12-2 precisely because their teammates are playing at a high level as well. The attributes of said teammates include—but are not limited to—Josh David’s lethal shooting, JC Macalalag’s impeccable curls off screens, Raven Gonzales’ quick-trigger floaters, and CJ Austria’s crafty drives.
Shaquille O’Neal frequently talks about the role of “the others” in securing a championship, and indeed, DLSU’s supporting crew was as important to last season’s Finals win as KQ and Motor Mike. Can the Fighting Maroons’ loaded roster live up to the hype when the UAAP lights are shining at their brightest?
On paper, UP is as deep—if not deeper—than DLSU in this Finals rematch. The Maroons’ backcourt has a trio of menaces in Terrence Fortea, Reyland Torres, and Janjan Felicilda, while the frontcourt flexes the physicality of Gani Stevens and Dikachi Ududo. Don’t forget the raw prospect who goes by the name of Jacob Bayla, who might turn out to be the X-factor in this series.
Who Will Dominate the Paint: Mike Phillips or Quentin Millora-Brown?
If you had to put together a list of UAAP S87 Fresh Faces, Quentin Millora-Brown would be one of the faces smiling from the marquee. The one-and-done center from Virginia has taken the league by storm with his polished inside game and prolific contributions in the rebounding category. QMB has his eyes set on the UAAP title, even as netizens are clamoring for his inclusion in the Gilas pool.
A couple of reminders, though: Mike Phillips already has a UAAP championship ring, and he was in a Gilas jersey when the Philippines won gold at the 2023 SEA Games. There are many reasons why he’s called Motor Mike, but none bigger than his tireless work on the boards. Time and time again, Phillips outjumps, outdives, and outhustles every player on the court, teammate and opponent alike.
Which of these young stallions will dominate the interior, thus unlocking control of pace and a bevy of outside shooters? On the one hand, QMB proved to be a handful for Phillips in their Round 1 encounter—a game in which the La Salle senior was held to four points and the UP rookie had a +2 edge in rebounds. On the other hand, Phillips has since played the best basketball of his UAAP career, eventually placing second in the MVP race.
Which Team Can Consistently Win the Third Quarter?
Ardent fans of the sport know the importance of the third quarter—a juncture of the game in which momentum can spell the difference between a W and an L. The idea is to implement an entire set of tactical adjustments and place next-level pressure on the other team as the game approaches the final 10 minutes.
It’s not exactly a secret that the third quarter is a key ingredient of the Fighting Maroons’ formula to success. Throughout this season, UP has overcome leads and blown games wide open within this precious time frame. But, on one occasion, UP could only muster eight measly points in the third quarter of a game. Three guesses who their opponent was.
For what it’s worth, it was in the fourth quarter that DLSU hurt UP the most in both of their elimination-round matchups. The Archers are a proven commodity in the final 10 minutes, but the Maroons can place themselves in a prime position to win by having a strong showing off the halftime break. Can UP claim the third quarter consistently in the Finals, or will DLSU’s finishing kick ultimately prove to be unstoppable?
Can Anyone Stop Kevin Quiambao?
For the record, your honor, I duly recognized Mr. Karl Kevin Quiambao and the singular spot that he owns in this entire league.
May the court records state that I offered this perspective on September 9, 2024. Witnesses: Mr. Naveen Ganglani and Mr. Miguel Francisco Rocha.
To wit: “What Kevin Quiambao will do and not be able to do this season will directly affect who hoists the UAAP men’s basketball trophy at the end of the season.”
In every league out there, we hear talk of the road to the championship going through a certain city or team. Ibahin niyo ang UAAP. This season, the title goes through just one man.
Why? Because Quiambao controls the game in many resounding ways. He’s extremely active on the boards, whips out passes that would evade laser sensors, and sets the tone with his energy on defense. Plus, KQ shoots over smaller defenders with ease and punishes bigger bodies with his deceptive agility.
Ultimately, this question decides the fate of both teams. During the preseason and S87 elims, there were stretches when Francis Lopez and Aldous Torculas made Quiambao somewhat uncomfortable. It’s another story, of course, to ask either player to keep up their thankless efforts at containment on the biggest stage of all.
Because, in a word, Kevin Quiambao is him.
So, who wins the UAAP Season 87 Finals? My brain says DLSU can take it in three—but my heart says UP should do it in two.
Yeah, I said it.
By the Numbers
34
The number of turnover points scored by the Mapua Cardinals in their Game 1 victory over the College of Saint Benilde Blazers. Under the bright lights of the Big Dome, CSB turned the ball over 23 times, which held them back from seizing control of the game. Meanwhile, Mapua—which was led by Clint Escamis’ 30-piece—kept their foot on the gas till the very end. Game 2 on December 7 will be an even more intense affair, as CSB will be back with a vengeance and Mapua tries to go for the kill.
1
The number of seconds that Terrafirma import Ryan Richards played in the Dyip’s 113-101 loss to the Northport Batang Pier this past Saturday. Right after tip-off, Terrafirma rookie Mark Nonoy fouled the Batang Pier’s Arvin Tolentino; this led to a dead ball situation in which Richards—whose status as a starter was apparently iron-clad—left the game. I can’t believe I just typed that paragraph.
Tweet of the Week
‘Nuff said.
