LA Salle and University of the Philippines will meet in the UAAP men’s basketball Finals for the second straight season.

The back-to-back title-seeking Green Archers know that there’s no room for error against the Fighting Maroons, who are trying to redeem themselves from their failed attempts in the last two championship series after winning the 2022 bubble season.

“What’s obvious during those first two meetings was UP did not have a complete lineup. That’s one thing we haven’t seen and going back to our preseason meetings, they beat us twice so that’s one thing we have to remember,” said La Salle coach Topex Robinson.

The Green Archers swept their elimination round head-to-head, but the Fighting Maroons were without Quentin Millora-Brown in the second round, who rejoined his family in the family with the passing of his grandfather Angel last month, and JD Cagulangan in the first round due to injury.

La Salle completed its domination of No. 4 Adamson, 70-55, winning a combined 70 points in their three meetings this season, to advance to the title round for a second straight year.

UP defeated third-ranked University of Santo Tomas, 78-69, in the other half of the Final Four to secure its fourth consecutive Finals appearance, and the fifth in last six seasons.

In their Finals bout last season, the Green Archers battled back after blown out by 30 points in the series opener, storming back in Games 2 and 3 to take their first championship since 2016.

La Salle has won its last four meetings against UP, including 68-56 and 77-66 victories in the elimination round.

Game 1 of the Finals will be on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Big Dome.

Behind reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao, Mike Phillips and Joshua David, the Green Archers led by as much as 27 points before the Falcons trimmed down the lead to a much respectable level late in the game.

“It’s nice to be back in the Finals and I guess we also have to acknowledge Adamson losing (AJ) Fransman and (Jhon) Calisay who are vital parts of the team. They still gave a good fight and that just shows how good that team is. These guys did what they’re supposed to do so it’s nice to be back in the Finals,” said Robinson.

Calisay and Fransman, who played key roles in the Falcons’ late push for the last Final Four spot, were both under the weather.

In this week’s Finals build-up, La Salle is simply focusing on what its in control to remain in the throne.

With Millora-Brown’s impressive Final Four showing against the Growling Tigers, and Cagulangan hoping to reprise his Season 84 heroics that ended a 36-year title drought, the Green Archers know that the series against the Fighting Maroons won’t be a cakewalk.

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Theodore P. Jurado