Matapos iligpit ang La Salle Green Archers nitong Linggo, 71-68, pumuwesto sa No. 2 ang UP Fighting Maroons ng twice-to-beat advantage sa 82nd UAAP seniors basketball tourney 2019 Final Four.
“I was just really happy. We’re known for having games like this, for always having a close game. We’re just happy we pulled out the win today,” bulalas ni Kobe Lorenzo Paras na isa sa susi sa pagdalawa ng State U sa DLSU sa 2-round elims.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na magka-twice-to-beat edge ang Diliman-based squad sa Final 4 era ng walong eskuwelang liga.
Hinirit ni Paras, “It means a lot just because I told one of the people I was talking to earlier is that UP hasn’t been in this situation in a long time. So I’m just really grateful that we did our best today. La Salle put up a great fight. Shoutout to the coaches and players. I just can’t wait to go back to practice tomorrow and get ready for Wednesday.”
‘Di nga lang madali para sa Peyups ang kalaban sa semis, makakatuos na rin muna nito sa wakas ng elims ang top seed at reigning titlist Ateneo Blue Eagles Miyerkoles.
“We just have to, you know — It’s just another game. We can’t think about giving them their first loss or whatever. That adds pressure for no reason so we just gotta play the game that we know and just trust each other and trust what the coaches planned for us,” panapos ng basketbolista. (Janiel Abby Toralba)