Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

6 p.m. — UP vs La Salle

One team will raise its fist while basking in glorious triumph while the other will be vanquished, left to grit its teeth thinking endlessly of the what-ifs.

De La Salle University and University of the Philippines go at it for one last time when they collide in Game 3 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men's basketball tournament best-of-three title series today at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Splitting their first two matches in dominating fashion, the scheduled 6 p.m. encounter will be a tossup with the team with enough fuel left in its tank, mental toughness and unquestionable heart in the grueling series emerge with a shiny crown on its head.

The Green Archers would like to think that momentum is on their side after crushing the stunned Fighting Maroons, 82-60, in Game 2 last Sunday to force a third straight finals series decider.

However, finishing off UP, which has already been in the same situation the past two finals, to end a seven-year title drought will be a tougher challenge for La Salle.

"Well, I know, we know it's gonna be hard. You know, winning a championship is gonna be hard. Playing against the top college team in the country right now. It's going to be hard," first-year Green Archers coach Topex Robinson said.

La Salle matched the physicality of UP in Game 2 and hounded it all game long with tenacious defense and hustle.

Robinson, who is a win away from joining Franz Pumaren, Juno Sauler and Aldin Ayo in the elite club of Green Archers mentors who won it all in their maiden seasons, knows that Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde will make adjustments to get the upper hand in their chess match.

"So, come Game 3, obviously, there's going to be a lot of work. We know UP will be going to come out with guns blazing. But for us, we always focus on ourselves. We don't know what UP will do but we know what we will do," Robinson said.