FOR ALL THE MARBLES

Game today:

(Smart Araneta Coliseum)

3:30 p.m. — La Salle vs UP

After everything said and done, it finally came down to two teams — De La Salle University and University of the Philippines — with no less than the most prestigious crown in collegiate basketball on the line.

The third installment of the Green Archers-Fighting Maroons finals encounter is headed for yet another thrilling and dramatic conclusion when they clash for one last time on Wednesday to determine the rightful owner of Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament title.

Game time is set at 3:30 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Green Archers and Fighting Maroons expected to fight tooth and nail to secure the UAAP title after their razor-thin victories in the first two games of the series.

Banking on the heroics of Jacob Cortez, La Salle drew the first blood with a 74-70 victory on 10 December to inch closer to a fitting finale in a campaign that was marred with inconsistencies, injuries and controversies before finally lifting its 11th UAAP trophy.

But UP — the reigning champion — refused to go down without putting up a fight. Fighting Maroons coach Goldwin Monteverde deployed Filipino-American winger Jacob Bayla to shadow Cortez from start to finish before watching Vhoris Marasigan clank out a potential game-winning three-pointer to escape with a nail-biting 66-63 victory that forced a sudden-death Game 3.

Now, everything is a thing of the past.

UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon said what happened in the first two games should be flushed out of the toilet because in Game 3, whoever is hungrier, more determined will definitely take home the trophy.

“In Game 3, I’m sure everything will be like you can sum up into those plays and those moments. I think what’s important, regardless of what happens in the result of the game, is that they can say to themselves that they gave everything,” said Luanzon, whose wards are focused on giving the school its fifth UAAP crown.

UP veteran Gerry Abadiano agrees, saying that he will give the last drop of his sweat just to help the Fighting Maroons corner their third title in five years in his final game in college.

“Personally, of course, the experience that we got in the last championship is also a big thing for me and for my other teammates. I can share with them what the do-or-die game will be like on Wednesday,” said Abadiano, who aims to lead the group of Francis Nnoruka, Sean Alter, Reyland Torres and Harold Alarcon to the title.

“Coach Chris said that it’s every kid’s dream to be in a do-or-die game and we’re so blessed and thankful for the opportunity that this happened. It’s rare for players who have experience in this kind of thing.”

Complacency, however, should be the last thing on UP’s mind.

After seeing Marasigan miss the biggest shot of his life, Robinson urged his wards to further step up and go for the kill in a match where the stakes are high and minor mistakes could lead to serious consequences.

“You know, it’s something that every athlete or every young coach always dreams of — going into a Game 3. We are just making sure that we’re going to learn a lot from it,” said Robinson, who is in his third UAAP finals with the Green Archers

“Whatever happens, we’re just going to give our best and really, really enjoy that Game 3. It’s going to be something that we have to get excited about.”

Cortez, who scored 16 points in Game 2, encourages his teammates to take initiative as the sudden-death battle promises to be a dogfight from the opening tip until the final buzzer.

“That’s why I told my teammates to be more aggressive and they were kind of tentative. Well, it’s up to me to lead them and encourage them to take those shots,” said Cortez, who is expected to draw support from Luis Pablo, Mike Phillips, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos and Marasigan.

The Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons have been contesting the title for the past three years.

In Season 86, Kevin Quiambao, Mark Nonoy and Evan Nelle came up big in the crucial stretch to lead La Salle to the title. The Fighting Maroons stormed back the following year with Francis Lopez, JD Cagulangan and Quentin Millora-Brown conspiring to clinch the crown in a series that also went down to the final basket in the deciding Game 3.