IT'S UP VS LA SALLE IN FINALS

Top-seeds and twice-to-beat University of the Philippines and La Salle forced a titular showdown for the first time in history by making short work of erstwhile champion Ateneo and National U, respectively, in the UAAP Season 86 Final Four yesterday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

- JOHN BRYAN ULANDAY

The Maroons dethroned the Eagles, 57-46, in a lowscoring tiff to book their third straight finals appearance while the streaking Archers proved too hot to handle for the Bulldogs, 97-73, to snap a six-year finals drought.

Malick Diouf, Francis Lopez and Janjan Felicilda conspired in a second-half runaway after bleeding for just 22 points in the first two quarters as UP ended Ateneo's six straight finals appearances under head coach Tab Baldwin.

Diouf, the reigning MVP, harvested 12 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and three blocks while Lopez (12) and Felicilda (10) took turns in draining timely hits down the stretch for the Maroons, who have yet to miss the finals since celebrated high school mentor Goldwin Monteverde took over the program.