 |
| UP skipper Paul Desiderio bucked a horrible shooting day, saving his best shots for last against Adamson. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines |
By Karl Batungbacal
QUEZON CITY -- The UP Fighting Maroons booked their ticket to the UAAP Finals after a 32-year drought behind Juan Gomez de Liaño's 30 points and Paul Desiderio's 16 with a win over the second seeded Adamson Soaring Falcons on Wednesday night.
Coach Bo Perasol talked extensively about the overtime period as it was evident that both sides were already very tired after the extremely physical game that brought out the best in all of them.
He said that whichever side wants it more will be able to beat out the other and have the right to face Ateneo in what most people see as a three-game series filled with drama.
 |
| UP mentor Bo Perasol lacked emotions as his bench mob reacts. Dennis Jerome Acosta/Dugout Philippines |
"If you were going to make a telenovela, how are you going to make it better?" he said referring to the ending of the game.
As a closing statement to the first round of questions, Perasol concluded, "We're very blessed to be where we are and even more blessed to have the win."
In a short correspondence with Desiderio regarding the last play of the game, he said, "Kung ano man mangyari sa tira ko na 'yon, inaako ko 'yong responsibilidad."
He was also asked about how he was able to take the game winner even if he was shooting 3-of-19 prior to the shot and all he said was, "I don't care sa shooting percentage, win or lose, ako masisisi, pero buti pumasok kaya everybody happy."
The UP Fighting Maroons will face the Ateneo Blue Eagles at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Saturday, December 1 in the 1st game of the best-of-3 Finals series.
Follow him on Twitter: @blackmambito24
.JPG)
.jpg)
