UST, UP in knockout match

Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 08:35:26 +0000

KOBE Paras

By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

University of Santo Tomas and University of the Philippines clash for one last time today in a game that will define their destiny at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The winner in the 4 p.m. rubber match of their semis series will earn the right to meet undefeated Ateneo in the UAAP finals – a best-of-three affair starting this Saturday.

The UST Tigers are looking to extend their Cinderella run while the UP Maroons hope to finally solve the riddle after losing three in a row – including the opener of their series, 89-69, on Sunday.

UP gained a twice-to-beat advantage for finishing second while Tigers are out sustain the momentum of an impressive win over the Far Eastern University Tamaraws in the first level of the stepladder semis.

Another win would bring UST back to the finals for the first time since losing to FEU in 2015 while UP is aching to book a return trip to the finals in order to have a chance of getting back at the Eagles who completed a 14-game sweep of the elims.

After also beating the Maroons twice in the elims – 85-69 in the first round and 84-78 in the second round, the Tigers are once again favored especially with the way their crafty guards have been responding to the challenge of coach Aldin Ayo.

But UP coach Bo Perasol is not losing hope on finding the right formula in beating UST, and what better way to do it than in this all-important game.

“We cannot just be the recipients of their aggressiveness. We need to match them. We have to understand that the reason we lost three games this season against UST is because they outhustled us,” he said after the Maroons entered the round with a twice-to-beat advantage.

“We couldn’t bring this type of game against any team. If this is the way we play against Ateneo, we are just going to be a show for Ateneo.”

The Tigers unleashed their offensive prowess particularly behind the arc after unloading 11 three-pointers against the Maroons’ three. UST also boasted a flexible rotation and got 51 points off the bench.

Ayo expects his players to stick to the system, which proved effective each time they played with the Maroons.

He also hopes his players have recovered physically and mentally from the jolting defeat.

“It’s only a short preparation
http://tempo.com.ph/feed/