The upcoming UAAP men’s basketball finals will mark a historic first as the UP Fighting Maroons face off against the La Salle Green Archers. This matchup, rich in familiarity and rivalry, promises to be a memorable event in Philippine collegiate sports.
A Clash of Familiar Rivals:
The finals bring together players with intertwined pasts. La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao, a top contender for Most Valuable Player, was a former high school player under UP coach Goldwin Monteverde. The match will also see UP captain CJ Cansino and La Salle guard Mark Nonoy, who were once teammates at UST. Additionally, the backcourt rivalry between the Archers’ Evan Nelle and the Maroons’ JD Cagulangan, which began in high school, adds another layer of intrigue to the finals.
The Road to the Finals:
Both universities reach this landmark finals for the first time since La Salle joined the UAAP from the NCAA in 1986, coincidentally the year UP won its first championship. The best-of-three title series is set to begin on Wednesday, November 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena, pitting these two esteemed teams in a battle for supremacy.
The UP Fighting Maroons and La Salle Green Archers’ face-off in the UAAP men’s basketball finals is not just a game of basketball but a convergence of histories and rivalries. This first-time finals encounter between these two teams is set to be a thrilling and emotional ride for fans and players alike.