UAAP: The qualification for the final is nice, but the mission is not over yet for Bright Akhuetie and UP

"We are going to get ready for the next stage because it is not that, we still have one left, it is a step forward to achieve that, so let's not settle for to say that's it. " – brilliant Akhuetie

For the first time in more than three decades, the University of the Philippines is moving towards the UAAP men's basketball final.

The Maroons fighters were at the height of their mantra "Atin & # 39; To" survived an exciting classic to make or to die against Adamson University it even took five extra minutes of action on Wednesday night at the Araneta Coliseum.

In the end though, the night belonged to the Diliman.

Now, UP meets defending champions and No. 1 seeded Blue Eagles of the Ateneo de Manila University in a finals series dubbed "The Katipunan War".

And as ecstatic and jubilant as the players and the community deserve – especially after a 32-year drought in the finals – simply qualifying for the final is not the ultimate goal. To hoist the title is, and to get there, there is still work to be done.

This is precisely why, instead of celebrating, we asked the Maroons to take a well deserved rest.

"Despite the celebration and everyone happy, as the coach said, we simply have to go back, rest and start over today because Saturday is only there" said Bright Akhuetie, the big man of the UP, at ABS-CBN Sports. "We have plenty of time to rest, so we just have to go back and work on the elements we need to work against Ateneo."

"All this time, we focused on Adamson, now it's time to go back and start over Ateneo, look at our past games and see the adjustments we need to make because it will be difficult, no doubt" , did he declare. continued.

Akhuetie, the most useful player of the season, revealed that there was not even enough time to end up after this historic feat.

Rest and preparation were paramount for the Fighting Maroons, who are still looking to write even more history this season, especially since the work is not over yet.

"That was what the coach Bo [Perasol] actually said. We did not even attend a team dinner or a party, he told everyone to go home, get enough rest and we'll be here [for practice] 5 pm tomorrow. "

It is easy to get distracted after a historic and emotionally charged victory, like what UP did Wednesday night. In all respects, this season will be their best for decades and this will be their first appearance in the final phase since the UAAP was upgraded to Final Four.

But again, like the spirit of most teams and athletes, it's a failed season unless you win a championship.

[Coach Bo] I've just tried to put it in our heads and let us know that it's what it is, we do not celebrate anything, "Akhuetie continued. We will prepare for the next step because it is not that, we still have one more to do. It's a step closer to that goal, so do not just say that's it. "

In the last two editions of the season, Ateneo was right of its neighbors Katipun. As the final of the season approaches, UP is considered an outsider.

Akhuetie knows that to compete with the Blue Eagles and beat them, it will take a team effort on the part of all, all strong # 16.

"We all have to be ready, we all have to play and play because, even the players who come off the bench, they have to play and bring food to the table because the top five players can not do it alone," he said. expressed. "We need all these people and I'm sure we'll do good, I'm sure we'll do good."

UAAP finals start on Saturday 1st December at 15.30. Capture it live on ABS-CBN channel 2, ABS-CBN channel S + A 23, ABS-CBN channel S + A HD 166, iWant and livestreaming.