By MARK REY MONTEJO
Reigning champion University of the Philippines appears to be peaking well just at the right time.
Learning their lessons the hard way after dropping their first two games that put an early scare to the team’s two-peat bid, the Maroons strung up four wins that enabled them to get the confident swagger back heading to their much-awaited match with the La Salle Archers on Sunday, Oct. 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Their 69-66 win over the over Far Eastern University Tamaraws Sunday, Oct. 12, at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila was another testament to the team’s upward trajectory.
More than that, it was an added motivation when they duel against the hurting La Salle Archers who will likely miss Mason Amos due to right knee injury.
And things seem to be building towards that crucial match.
“Malayo pa. But we’re building towards it and coach Gold would always emphasize, at least compared to the first two games… What’s important for us is every game, every practice, we’re improving.” said UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon.
“And that’s been evident not only in the games but also in our practices. So we just gotta continue to build towards it, especially approaching the end of the first round,” he added.
“First thing, I’m just happy that we have one week to prepare which means there’s time to rest and at the same time to scout,” added Luanzon. “Second, we cannot be too high and too low approaching that game… but you cannot discount the fact that it’s going up against a rival team. We played them in the finals,” he added.
Expected to play a key role in that game is 6-foot-7 Ganu Stevens.
Continuing to establish himself as the Maroons’ “next big thing” — quite literally — Stevens is up for the challenge down the paint against the Green Archers, whose formidable frontcourt is led by Mike Phillips.
“Obviously, you know, La Salle’s got a lot of talented guys over there. [Luis] Pablo, Philips. So, I come with that mindset. I’ve come to every game,” said Stevens.
“I already know that I’m a little bit undersized, but I make up for that with energy, physicality, and just trying to do my job the best I can and as long as I trust the system, trust my teammates, I know everything’s gonna work out,” he added.
Stevens, who logged 14 points, nine rebounds, one assist, and one steal to take charge as UP big man Francis Nnoruka struggled big time, kept FEU at bay with his and Harold Alarcon’s crucial baskets.
Alarcon, for his part, is embracing his leadership role with his own approach, and he has been successful so far.
“Ako kasi, hindi ako ma-vocal as a player. Pinapakita kolang through my actions and I just show it in practice, in the game,” said Alarcon, who tallied 15 points on top of six rebounds, three assists, and three steals. “Do’n nakikita nila kung ano ako as a leader.”
