MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.web
Nothing got here straightforward for La Salle when it ended a seven-year championship drought within the UAAP males’s basketball match final 12 months.
The Inexperienced Archers know issues shall be even tougher this season.
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“We actually have to search out methods to win. We all know that every one groups are gonna be on the market weapons blazing each time that they’re going to be up towards us,” coach Topex Robinson stated on Sunday night time after a 78-75 escape act towards Nationwide College (NU) of their UAAP Season 87 males’s basketball duel at Sensible Araneta Coliseum.
That’s why mindset is necessary for the defending champions, who’re attempting to excise that title from their minds.
“We determined final season that we wish to win the championship. And, it’s given to us now. So, we all know the accountability of being the earlier champions. And, we form of take that out of our vocabulary—we’re not defending something proper now,” Robinson added.
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As a substitute, the Archers play like they’re gunning for one.
Confronted with a seven-point deficit late within the recreation, La Salle star and MVP Kevin Quiambao performed like he was chasing a primary title.
Quiambao unveiled his deadeye persona to sink essential buckets and can the Archers to victory.
Take-over mode
“As one of many veterans within the group, I wanted to indicate that I gained’t allow us to lose,” Quiambao stated. “I informed them that it’s not but over and that we simply must execute what we have to do.”
“I informed myself that I should be in take-over mode and be the dependable man for my teammates so what I did is change into the glue man and lead by instance,” this system cornerstone stated after contributing 22 factors, eight rebounds and 7 assists.
NU positively introduced its A-game towards La Salle and Robinson acknowledges that effort. However the sophomore coach is aware of that if the Archers need one other profitable marketing campaign, they rapidly must get their act collectively and never let up towards any opponent.
Not with each group attempting to goal on the goal behind their backs.
“If you don’t respect this recreation, you don’t respect the opponent, that’s gonna occur to you,” Robinson stated. “We are going to be taught from these experiences. We’d reasonably play these sorts of recreation that can check us. We’ve got seven … rookies. The extra that they get uncovered, it just about prepares us for the finals.”
“Like what we had been speaking about earlier than the sport, all video games that we’ll play, we’re gonna deal with it as championships till we get used to it,” he added. INQ
