UP, La Salle headed for another title duel?
University of the Philippines believes it has enough talent to replicate last year’s title run in UAAP Season 88 which, could possibly end up in another duel with with losing finalist La Salle.
“I believe this is one of the most competitive years since I’ve been to the UAAP,” graduating Green Archer Mike Phillips said.
It has been Diliman against Taft Avenue in the last two seasons of the country’s premier collegiate league, with two universities splitting the two Finals matchups.
La Salle won it in 2023 before UP exacting revenge last year. And now, a third encounter seems like a possibility, unless other teams have their way.
“To win this championship this Season 88, its gonna take everything from you. It’s gonna take a full sacrifice,” said Phillips, who will play his final season with La Salle.
The Green Archers go into the campaign with Phillips plus players who have clear their eligibility requirements in Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos.
UP is keen on preventing La Salle’s return to the top, even with Francis Lopez, JD Cagulangan and one-and-done Quentin Millora-Brown no longer around to lead coach Monteverde’s charges.
Harold Alarcon is among those expected to lead the Fighting Maroons’ repeat quest while Gani Stevens is expected to fill the void left by Millora-Brown down low.
Out to break the La Salle-UP duopoly in the tournament that tips off on Saturday at the campus of host University of Santo Tomas are the Growling Tigers and Adamson, teams that were also in the Final Four of Season 87.
The other four teams, University of the East, Ateneo, Far Eastern University and National University, will try to at least get into the Final Four this year, before trying their luck on shattering La Salle and UP’s latest title attempts.
FEU and Ateneo open hostilities on Saturday followed by a Final Four rematch between La Salle and Adamson.
UE and NU face off on Sunday before UP opens its championship defense against UST.
