Archers eye clincher vs Maroons
De La Salle University looks to cap a turbulent UAAP Season 88 by reclaiming the men’s basketball championship when it faces the University of the Philippines on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The Green Archers are one win away from securing their 11th UAAP title and regaining the crown they lost to the Fighting Maroons last year. A La Salle victory would also make the Archers just the second No. 4 seed in the Final Four era to win the championship.
Tip-off is set for 4 p.m.
“At this point, we don’t want to put too much pressure on closing out games,” La Salle coach Topex Robinson said. “That’s not who we are. We’ll continue to inspire people with how we play. We’re not just playing for the La Salle family and fans, but also paving the way for future La Salle athletes to remember how this team played.”
Despite suspensions and injuries, La Salle has put itself in a position to clinch the title. The Green Archers overcame top-ranked National University twice to advance to the Finals.
Jacob Cortez has emerged as a steady presence for La Salle, making key plays down the stretch. He sealed Game 1 with a step-back three-pointer over Reyland Torres with 27.4 seconds left, lifting the Archers to a 74-70 win.
Robinson said the team’s goal goes beyond wins.
“We want to leave this program better than when we found it,” he said. “Winning a championship helps solidify that.”
UP aims to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday. Harold Alarcon led the Fighting Maroons in Game 1 with 34 points—the highest Finals output since Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena scored 38 in 2018.
