WHAT a difference a year made.
After failing to get the job done last season, La Salle has advanced to the Final Four of the 86th UAAP basketball tournament, thanks largely to their resolve.
“These guys were challenged during the time we were struggling. Instead of them looking for other excuses, they just responded. They know how hard it is to represent La Salle,” Green Archers first-year coach Topex Robinson said.
“They know the struggles that they’ve been through. What’s important to us is we kept our circle solid. When we lost against Ateneo in the first round, it really hurt us.
“But it also bonded us, the time we spent together sharing those struggles. We’re a united front, we wanna make sure to take the opportunity to always strive to be the best version of ourselves,” he added.
Robinson spoke after his wards carved out a 69-57 victory over Adamson University two nights back for their fifth straight win that raised their mark to 8-3 with still three games left and clinched a slot in the semifinals.
MVP contender Kevin Quiambao shone anew for La Salle with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds, to go with three assists, while Michael Phillips added eight points and 11 boards.
Joshua David also had eight points and seven rebounds for the Archers, who went into battle on a high, having scored an 88-79 triumph over the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons last Sunday.
The Soaring Falcons slipped to 5-6.
“We’re just so grateful and blessed to be in this situation right now. These guys just never, never gave up. It was really hard coming off that game against UP. They never took a break. They just kept on grinding. Guys are hurt but they just said so be it,” Robinson said.
“These guys really are warriors and we’re just happy that we slugged it out with Adamson and got the win.”
La Salle also drubbed Adamson 71-58 when they first met last Oct. 11.
The Taft-based cagers will try to boost their bid for a top-two finish that will be rewarded with a twice-to-bear advantage in the Final Four when they square off with the University of the East Red Warriors on Sunday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
For Michael Phillips, the Archers cannot afford to fall into the traps of complacency in their bid to end a seven-year title drought.
“For me, iyong consistency. Iyon talaga ang gusto kong makita sa team and especially we have this mix of veteran guys with rookie guys and so, these games really help shape us, really help us prepare for the games going ahead,” he said. “That’s why we didn’t wanna overlook a game like this, overlook any games because they really help us prepare for the adversity we are gonna face in the playoffs, in the Final Four.
“I think this is just another learning experience for us. really helped us bond like what coach said, this is something that will prepare us down the road.”
