The UP Fighting Maroons are not letting up in their preparations against the UE Red Warriors in their final eliminations game.
The UP Fighting Maroons are expecting nothing but a dogfight as they face the UE Red Warriors in their final game of eliminations in UAAP Season 87, slated on Wednesday, November 20.
Though the game no longer has bearing for the Fighting Maroons, they are approaching it with caution as the Red Warriors have everything to gain in the sole men’s game at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
UE, who is in the midst of a four-game losing streak, will be hard strapped for a victory as the Red Warriors need the win for an outright berth to this season’s Final Four — which will mark the first time the squad gets into the semis since 2009.
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Operating on opposite ends of situations, UP head coach Goldwin Monteverde said that they are expecting the worst against UE.
“Every time you have your back against the wall, wala naman ibang gagawin kundi lumaban talaga. Syempre. For them, their game into the Final Four, sigurado ako na they would really prepare for it, sigurado lalaban sila hanggang dulo dito.” said Monteverde on One News PH’s
Play By Play.
In their first round encounter, the UP handily beat UE, 81-71. But with both teams having developed since then, there is more to be wary of against the cagers from Mendiola this time around.
While it may be tempting for Monteverde to rest his stars ahead of their Final Four series against the UST Growling Tigers, the champion coach isn’t about to treat the game anything less than they have had all year round.
Eager to get into the semis with a two-game winning streak, after recently taking a win against FEU in another non-bearing game, UP has no qualms over giving it all when they face the Red Warriors.
[RELATED: UAAP: Goldwin Monteverde proud as UP holds steadfast against FEU for bounce-back win]
“Well, we would approach it the same way we approach it [every time]. Kakagaling lang namin sa practice, and whatever we could use or we could go through as a team to make us improve more and learn, like yung game namin sa Wednesday, we’ll be preparing for that also,” said Monteverde.
“So, we will take whatever we can learn from it para lang you know, just to be ready for the Final Four,” he added.
Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, the Fighting Maroons will be battling the UST Growling Tigers in the Final Four matches slated next month, after the UAAP’s FIBA break.
But first things first, they face the UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, November 20, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.