Norm-defying Abadiano embraces mid-range shots as UP forces UAAP finals Game 3

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Smack dab in the center of basketball's 3-point golden age, UP star Gerry Abadiano showcases his mid-range mastery as the Fighting Maroons keep their UAAP men's basketball title defense alive against rival La Salle

MANILA, Philippines – In this day and age of prolific three-pointers in modern basketball, Gerry Abadiano stubbornly went against the flow.

A graduating star of the UP men’s basketball team, the calm and collected veteran gunner utilized the mid-range shot to incredible effect as the Fighting Maroons pulled off a UAAP Season 88 finals Game 2 escape of rival La Salle, 66-63, on Sunday, December 14, to force a winner-take-all Game 3.

Abadiano torched the nets for 17 points, 6 coming off contested mid-rangers in the final 2:31 of regulation, and did enough damage to help UP force a decider on Wednesday, December 17, at the Araneta Coliseum.

Already a mid-range sniper since his title-winning high school days with the NU Bullpups, the 24-year-old standout said his confidence simply comes from experience from years of UAAP playoff games.

“I didn’t really expect my game to go that way today, but we really just played as a team and attacked the holes in the defense. We were really just hungrier in Game 2 since we lost Game 1,” Abadiano said in Filipino.

“It’s also our last year and personally, I don’t want my last [game] to go like I didn’t do my best.”

For UP assistant coach Christian Luanzon, the Maroons simply played with “desperation” as expected of teams trailing in any finals series, and he now expects his players to leave it all on the line as a heated Game 3 beckons.

“From a personal standpoint, it’s every player’s dream. How many players could wake up and say they’ll play in the UAAP, and then play at a high level?” he said.

“I’m sure, whether a veteran like Gerry in his fifth season or Francis [Nnoruka] in his rookie season, they’d be lying if they say they’re not nervous. At the same time, there’s an excitement there since this is your dream since childhood. In Game 3, I’m sure everything will be summed up into those [clutch] plays.”

For UP, a win on Wednesday means a third championship in five seasons, title No. 4 overall, and more importantly, its first-ever successful title defense in school history, even dating back to its inaugural title run in the 1939-40 season.

Come Wednesday, UP will have one final shot at gold, and fans can certainly count on Abadiano to patrol the mid-range one final time, scouting for his next open looks as if it were just practice time in Diliman. – Rappler.com