The coaches’ game will just be one of the many backdrops of an unfolding classic title series between two teams of varying character but with one common goal — win the country’s most prestigious collegiate crown.
The Eagles leaned on a big basket by Doug Kramer in the final second for the big steal in the series’ opener last Sunday and the Eagles are all fired-up to finish off the Tigers and claim their first title in four years and fourth overall in Game Two today.
"It was a close one but the most important thing is we won it and we have a chance to wrap it up in Game 2," said Black.
A sweep of the best-of-three playoff, however, is easier said than done what with the Tigers, a long shot in the pre-season rating, proving their worth as a real title contender.
"It was an eye-opener for us for it shows we have a strong chance in the series," said Jarencio.
Gametime is 4 p.m. before an expected overflow crowd at the Big Dome. However, the UAAP said that if weather worsens, it will make an announcement early today if will postpone the games.
Not since the last Ateneo-La Salle duel in 2002 have there been so much interest and passion dished out in the UAAP Finals with tickets gone in a blink as early as Monday morning with huge demands coming from the alumni and students of both schools.
More than 16,000 watched Game One at the Big Dome.
"UAAP tickets sold out," a huge sign read at the gates of the Eagle gym at Loyola. There were also no tickets at the UST campus, forcing the Big Dome to issue additional 4,000 tickets before gametime.
The Eaglets, meanwhile, likewise shoot for the clincher and a 15th title overall as they face the Far Eastern U Baby Tams in the deciding Game 3 of their own best-of-three finale.
An award ceremony will follow with either Ateneo’s JC Intal or Adamson’s Ken Bono claiming this year’s Most Valuable Player award.
Although it was Kramer who made the biggest shot of the game, if not the whole season, expect the UST defense to focus on Intal, who kept Ateneo in the game Sunday firing 10 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Ateneo, on the other hand, will have to find ways on how to contain the bull-strong Jervy Cruz, who seemed to get better each game. He had 20 points and 13 rebounds, including nine on the offensive end in the opener.
"We had a hard time stopping him (Cruz) from scoring but we made it harder for him off the boards," said Black.
Allan Evangelista, who scored nine points, including the turn-around jumper that made it 72-71 for UST, is another player Ateneo will have to watch out along with Jojo Duncil, Dylan Ababou and Jun Cortez, who are all expected to step up in a game they could not afford to lose.
Duncil struggled offensively as he missed 10 of the 12 shots he took to finish with only nine points while Ababou was held to just two points.
Worse was Cortez, who hit the clutch shots in the Tigers’ two gripping Final Four wins over the University of the East Warriors, but was held scoreless.