UAAP: DLSU, UP to battle it out once again in Men's Basketball Finals

It will be an epic rematch when the De La Salle University Green Archers defend their title against rival University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 87 Men's Basketball Finals.

In Season 86, the DLSU wards won the title in three games against the UP squad.

The Green Archers want to do it back-to-back as they will once again be led by the soon-to-be crowned two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao, while the Fighting Maroons aim to get revenge.

It will only be the third post-elimination match-up of the two universities in the Final Four era.

The two teams first faced each other in Season 84 when the leadership of coach Goldwin Monterverde led the Carl Tamayo-Malick Diouf combo of UP defeated the Justine Baltazar-led La Salle in their semi-final battle, and got their first championship since 1986.

After two years, the Green Archers relied on the mentorship of new head coach Topex Robinson to help them win the Season 86 title in three games.

In the coaches’ head-to-head match-up, Robinson had a 5-2 edge against Monteverde.

Besides the coaches battle, another face-off features former Gilas Pilipinas Youth players Raven Gonzales (formerly Cortez) of DLSU and Terrence John Fortea of UP.

Gonzales and Fortea were part of the Philippine team that won gold medal in the 2017 Southeast Asian Basketball Association or SEABA Under-16 Championship, and they also together when the national youth team placed fourth in the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Asian Championship

The best-of-three finals series will begin on Sunday, December 8 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, while Game 2 will be played on December 11, at the Mall of Asia Arena.

If necessary, Game 3 will be on December 15 at the Big Dome.