La Salle beats U.P. To win first title in 7 years

CNN Philippines

The De La Salle Green Archers outlast the UP Fighting Maroons in a heart stopping game 3 of the UAAP finals!  Let's find out how things went down from Pauline Verzosa.  Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 celebrating their 10th UAAP Championship.

00:05 Call them the kings of the UAAP once again.

00:08 After 7 years, the Delosal Green Archers have reclaimed the men's basketball crown

00:12 after besting the UP Fighting Maroons in the winner take all Game 3 on Wednesday, 73-69.

00:18 It was a championship to remember for the Green and White

00:21 as they completed a reverse sweep of the finals by outlasting the UP Fighting Maroons

00:25 in a pressure packed and highly physical contest played in front of a massive 25,000 crowd inside the big dome.

00:32 This is my first championship as a college head coach after so many tries.

00:40 And again, you just don't want to give up.

00:45 Credit to UP, they really, really pushed us to the hill and really changed our challenges down to our core.

00:52 And it just brought out and unleashed the fighter in these guys.

00:57 But again, I cannot put the words, the feeling right now.

01:02 So a reset here for the Archers.

01:04 The boys from TAF turned things around in the second half and fought their way back from a 9 point deficit.

01:09 The team rallied behind newly crowned MVP Kevin Quiambao who led the way with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists,

01:16 including the go ahead floater and free throws that gave them a 3 point lead with 4 minutes left in the finale.

01:23 Quiambao was eventually named the finals MVP.

01:26 Graduating guard Evan Nelly also came a big by launching a deep free pointer that allowed them to get within 1

01:32 before finishing with 12 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds,

01:35 wrapping up what he called his best year of playing thanks to coach Topics Robinson.

01:40 It's so nice to feel that I can finally rest. Thank you.

01:46 Thank you coach Topics. This is what unleashed my potential.

01:50 It's so nice to feel that we got the championship despite the many doubts we had in the first round.

01:56 We are now the champions.

01:58 He's competitive, I'm competitive and come to the court, he would get mad at me, I would get mad at him.

02:06 But at the end of the day, we have each other's back.

02:08 I've been through so much ups and downs.

02:10 I didn't think it would end like this to be honest.

02:16 Down by 3 in the final minutes, the Fighting Maroons had plenty of chances to tie the game,

02:22 but failed to get any of their shots in.

02:24 This marks the second straight year UP fell short of winning the title,

02:28 making it a bitter exit for graduating seniors Malik Yuf and CJ Cancino.

02:32 It's so painful because it's like we're already there, we're just going to get it but we still didn't get it.

02:38 It's a roller coaster ride because I'm at the top sometimes, I'm at the bottom,

02:42 but I'm so thankful for the opportunity.

02:46 Before, it was just my dream, but now I'm here and I've already finished my career.

02:51 It's a waste.

02:56 I wanted to give the trophy to the UP community because that's my last year.

03:01 But that's life.

03:04 On behalf of the team, I can say that the whole team gave their best.

03:08 The kind of culture we have in UP, we will give everything to be able to feel Malik's exit

03:16 and at the same time preparing the next guy for him.

03:20 We will help him.

03:22 For now, the DLSC Green Archers are looking to relish their place back on top

03:26 before they prepare for a grueling title defense

03:29 in next year's UAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Tournament.

03:33 Pauline Rezosa, CNN Philippines.

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