LA Salle reached the Promised Land anew in the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, but the Green Archers’ real mission will be later this year.
They are raring to reach what new coach Topex Robinson described as their north star– the UAAP crown.
“This is nothing. Noong kinamayan ko si coach Topex (Robinson) sa last 20 seconds, sinabi ko ‘hindi pa tayo tapos.’ It didn’t give us any good luck last year,” La Salle assistant coach Gian Nazario, who called the shots for the squad in its D-League campaign, said. “Again, the championship is there but hindi naman ito (D-League) ang goal namin.
“Coach Topex always mentions our north star and our north star is the UAAP,” he added.
Nazario spoke after the Archers, carrying the colors of EcoOil-La Salle, clobbered Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda University 89-74 two days ago to bag their second straight title in the developmental league.
The Archers won it all last year in the same conference under former tactician Derrick Pumaren, leaving armchair pundits considering them as one of the favorites in the last UAAP cage wars.
Although toughened up by an overseas training in Japan, La Salle stumbled with a 7-7 slate in the eliminations no thanks to injuries to key players such as Deschon Winston (hamstring), Michael Phillips (concussion protocols), and Kevin Quiambao (COVID-19), who all sat out crucial matches.
The Taft-based five eventually lost to Adamson University in their knockout playoff duel for the last semifinals slot.
Nazario said his wards’ sorry loss to University of the Philippines in the finals of a pre-season tilt galvanized them.
“Ang nangyari after our game against UP, the next day, pinag-usapan namin ng mga players that this was not how we were supposed to play. So, we know what they’re capable of doing and sinabi nga namin na this is an opportunity to give back to the school for supporting us,” he said.
“Alam namin na we failed on winning the Filoil (diadem) siyempre masama ang loob nila. This is a way of regaining their trust.”
Quiambao, named the Aspirants’ Cup MVP, along with energetic brothers Mike and Ben Phillips, guards Evan Nelle, Mar Nonoy, and CJ Austria will be counted upon by La Salle in the 86th UAAP basketball tournament. No opening date has been set so far.
Prized recruits Rhyle Melenci, Ethan Alian, Vhoris Marasigan, Jonnel Policarpio, Isaiah Phillips, and Matthew Rubico are expected to provide ample help.
