Game today:

(Mall of Asia Arena)

4 p.m. — UP vs La Salle

History beckons De La Salle University as it looks to complete a sweep of defending champion University of Philippines (UP) in Game 2 of Season 88 of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball finals today at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Tip-off is set at 4 p.m. with the Green Archers aiming for a sweep and becoming the second UAAP team to win the championship after overcoming a twice-to-win disadvantage in the Final Four since National University did the trick in 2014.

La Salle drew the first blood, winning Game 1, 74-70, last Wednesday off Jacob Cortez’s clutch three-pointer.

Cortez, the son of La Salle legend Mike Cortez, fired 21 points while Doy Dungo came off the bench to deliver 15 markers for the Green Archers, who survived Harold Alarcon’s 34-point explosion.

Even with a 1-0 lead, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson knows closing the series will be easier said than done as he expects the reigning champions to mount a comeback.

“We always go back to our past seasons, those hurts, those lessons, we always start to ground all of these guys knowing that it’s not over because we respect the team and that they won’t give us the win easily,” Robinson said, adding that they will play with zero pressure and just enjoy the game.

“At this point, like Jacob said, we don’t want to put so much pressure on closing out games. That’s not who we are and that’s not what we represent.”

“We’ll continue to inspire a lot of people with the way we play and at this point, we’re not just only playing for our La Salle family and our La Salle fans, but we’re also paving the way for future La Salle athletes to always remember this game that we played.”

The last time the UAAP saw a sweep in the finals was back in 2019 when Ateneo de Manila University, led by Thirdy Ravena, SJ Belangel and brothers Mike and Matt Nieto, defeated Rhenz Abando, Renzo Subido, Mark Nonoy and Soulmane Chabi Yo of University of Santo Tomas to complete a three-peat.

UP doesn’t want to become the next team to get swept. Despite staring at a 0-1 deficit, UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said they will do their best to bounce back with everybody chipping in.

“This is also part of the challenge we’re facing now. So far, I’m confident. I really trust the team that they will bounce back from this,” said Monteverde, who saw Francis Nnoruka as the only Fighting Maroon to reach double digits with 13 points aside from Alarcon.

“We just lost a battle, the war is not over yet. We still have two games left, we’re still positive about it.”

Monteverde said they need to have the same fire and hunger they had back in the elimination round if they want to force a winner-take-all in Game 3 on Wednesday at the same Pasay venue.

From there, anything can happen.

“We just have to play better than this, for one. Second, we have to try to find out our lapses,” Monteverde said, hoping to draw solid games from veterans Reyland Torres and Gerry Abadiano.

“It is not the first time we lost, just reminding ourselves that we even started this season at 0-2.”

But before UP and La Salle go at each other’s throats, the UAAP will have an awarding ceremony for the top players in Season 88 with Janrey Pasaol of Far Eastern University bagging the Most Valuable Player award after posting 81.5 statistical points despite missing the Final Four.