MANILA, Philippines – Winning back-to-back games and being included in the Final Four conversation this deep into the UAAP season is unfamiliar territory for the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons.
After mustering only one win in the first round, they have now won back-to-back contests in the Season 79 tournament to improve to 3-6 and stay in the hunt for a semifinal spot with still five games to go in their schedule.
"It's my fifth year, and never naman na dumating sa point na ganoon, napag-uusapan ang Final Four," said team captain Jett Manuel, the hero of UP's 70-66 win over Adamson University on Wednesday. "It's new to me."
This is why Manuel intends to talk to his coaches and to his teammates as they navigate new waters.
"I just want to keep myself grounded," he stressed. "I'm gonna talk to Coach Bo, talk to the team. We're not gonna look at that (the Final Four) immediately."
"We're just gonna keep on playing together and improving every game, and winning," he added.
The back-to-back wins will do wonders for their conference, especially as both victories came at the expense of contenders in Ateneo and Adamson.
However, Manuel is quick to point out that their "strongest opponent" is coming up as they are set to face De La Salle University on Saturday.
"We're taking it one game at a time," he stressed.
"Looking at the bigger picture – yeah, we want to shoot for the Final Four spot," he added. "But you know, I'm gonna keep the team grounded. Based on experience, I know it's a long second round, and a lot of things can happen."
At 3-6, UP is a game behind Adamson for the fifth spot in the league standings. The Fighting Maroons last made the Final Four in the 1997 season.
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