Ateneo, UST battle for the crown in UAAP Season 82 men's basketball finals

One Big Fight and Go USTe — these chants will be heard at the Smart Araneta Coliseum at 4 p.m. on Saturday as the Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas will play each other in UAAP Season 82 men's basketball finals.

The Ateneo Blue Eagles are gunning for their third straight crown and will try to extend their undefeated streak this season.

After completing their elimination round sweep, Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin said the job isn't done yet.

"We understand that this is a significant accomplishment for a basketball team, to go through a season undefeated. But as you all know, the job isn't done," Baldwin said after their last game in the elimination round against University of the Philippines.

"Our job is far from done, and in fact, it’s going to get harder. But at this point, I can say that I’m very proud of these men," Baldwin added.

For Season 81 Finals MVP Thirdy Ravena, the pressure on them will make them work harder to be the UAAP's ‘greatest team’ ever.

"I think there’s always pressure naman for us especially before pa mag-start 'yung season. They were already expecting something from our team whether it’s a sweep or we win a lot of games. But I think the pressure that really matters is that the pressure we put on ourselves in trying to be the best team and the best individuals we can possibly be," he said.

Meanwhile, UST will try to end their title drought which they last claimed in 2006. They last made it to the Finals stage back in 2015.

Despite making it to the Finals after four years and surviving three do-or-die games in this season’s playoffs, UST head coach Aldin Ayo said they haven't achieved anything yet.

"Wala pa kaming na-a-achieve. We haven't achieved anything yet," Ayo said during the post-game conference last November 13 after winning against UP. 

"Of course we are grateful that we reached this far but this is not our main goal," the master of mayhem added. 

"I feel very good, very happy to be in the finals," Season 82 league MVP Soulemane Chabiyo said.

Aside from the exciting matchup between the two teams, the face-off between the two head coaches is one thing basketball fans can look forward to.

This is the third time that Baldwin and Ayo will face each other in the Finals stage.

Ayo got his first championship in the UAAP back in 2016 when he called the shots for De La Salle University. Meanwhile, Baldwin had his own two years ago during their second face-off.

The last time Ateneo and UST battled out in the Finals was back in 2012. Ateneo won that series, the last in their historic five-peat era. —KG, GMA News