RANGED against undefeated National University in the UAAP Season 78 juniors’ basketball Finals, De La Salle-Zobel coach Boris Aldeguer knows what miracles do happen.
“It’s going to be a David and Goliath situation,” said Aldeguer. “But you know what, with the heart they displayed (against the Blue Eaglets), who knows? Anything is possible. Bilog ang bola”
Aldeguer cited two improbable situations in college women’s volleyball, where UAAP’s Ateneo and NCAA’s College of Saint Benilde overcame thrice-to-beat disadvantages to win the title, as well as in PBA’s San Miguel Beer where it became the first team to capture the championship after going 0-3 down.
He believes that the Junior Archers can do it as they take on the thrice-to-beat Bullpups in the championship opener at 2 p.m. today at The Arena. The rest of the Finals series will be aired live on ABS-CBN Sports+Action.
Only one school in the league’s high school sports have overturned the tremendous thrice-to-beat disadvantage to claim the crown—University of the East’s juniors table tennis squad, which defeated NU two years ago.
De La Salle-Zobel clinched the remaining slot in the title round after dethroning Ateneo, 75-67, in the second step-ladder last Monday.
The Junior Archers have a Herculean task to neutralize the Bullpups’ slotman Justine Baltazar, who tallied 11 double-doubles in the elimination round, as well as Rhayyan Amsali.
Baltazar is averaging 13.4 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game this season, while Amsali had a 8.4-point and 4.4-rebound clip in the elims.