UP moves on from Game 2 heartbreak

University of the Philippines (UP) is not dwelling on the missed opportunity of claiming the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball title after suffering a meltdown in the closing stretch of Game 2.

The Fighting Maroons were in control for the majority of the second half of the pivotal game but faltered in the last three minutes, leading to a sorry 75-76 loss to defending champion De La Salle University last Wednesday that leveled the best-of-three championship series rematch.

For the fourth time in four straight finals appearances, UP gets dragged into a winner-take-all series finale.

“I don’t know about that Game 2 curse, but basketball is basketball, right? You win some. You lose some,” said Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde when reminded of UP losing all the Game 2s of its four championship series.

UP drew first blood last Sunday and looked poised to win its fourth crown and first since ruling Season 84 in 2022 when it erected a nine-point lead early in the fourth quarter of Game 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Just when the Fighting Maroons thought the Green Archers were down and out, back-to-back Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and workhorse Mike Phillips rallied La Salle back to steal the win in a wild windup which included four missed free throws and a crucial turnover by UP forward Francis Lopez in the final minute and a bricked potential title-cinching triple by Gerry Abadiano at the buzzer.

But that’s all in the past now for Monteverde and his men.

“Right now what is important is how we’ll respond, how we’ll bounce back,” the mentor said.

Game 3 is on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We know the series isn’t over yet. We just have to keep our heads up. We’ll talk about it. Prepare well. Plan better just to get ready on Sunday,” Monteverde added.

On a positive note, the Fighting Maroons will march into battle in full force after Reyland Torres avoided a one-game following his ejection in Game 2 due to two unsportsmanlike infractions.

The league announced Thursday night that Torres will be eligible to play in Game 3.

Torres was whistled for his first unsportsmanlike foul after a hard contact with EJ Gollena with 5:33 remaining in the third before receiving his second while trying to stop CJ Austria’s fastbreak attempt in the last 2:58 of the game, earning an automatic ejection.

“The first unsportsmanlike foul occurred with 5:33 remaining in the third quarter, when Torres committed a UF category 2 (excessive, hard contact caused by a player in an effort to play the ball or an opponent) on EJ Gollena,” the league said in a statement released through the Basketball Commissioner’s Office.