La Salle looks to make the most of their chance for back-to-back UAAP crowns

Just when they thought they had been backed into a corner with no way out, De La Salle University fought back after pulling off a 76-75 escape win in Game 2 of its best-of-three finals series against University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday night. 

The Green Archers came alive in the final three minutes of the match after being down 64-55 to tie the series with the Fighting Maroons for the second straight season. 

With back-to-back reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao towing La Salle to that pivotal run in the payoff period, momentum and morale had now sided with the Taft based squad heading into Sunday’s title decider. 

And La Salle head coach Topex Robinson was nothing short of grateful for another championship experience—for himself and the young players they are establishing a strong program with for the future. 

“What happened in that fourth quarter, in those last three minutes was just so beautiful. Seeing that crowd. This experience will never happen again. We’re just gonna enjoy it, that’s how we’re gonna approach Sunday,” said Robinson. 

“I was just really holding on to our faith. We were telling ourselves that if it was gonna be given to us, it’s gonna be given. But we just kept on holding on to each other. We were making mistake but these guys were just supporting each other. Heading into this game we were clear with what we wanted as individuals and what we wanted as a team. The win was just given to us. We’re just grateful and happy that we get to play on Sunday. We’re just so excited for that game,” he added. 

Inside that final stretch was a display of steely nerves from Quiambao and Mythical Team member Mike Phillips, who shot the go-ahead layup that determined the final count before both big men missed four crucial free throws combined. 

Fortunately for the Green Archers, UP’s Francis Lopez also struggled from the line as he went blank and misfired four freebies of his own. 

Not to mention, the Fighting Maroons had the last possession, with Gerry Abadiano making the shot from the right corner which hit the rim at the buzzer. 

“It’s every coach's dream or nightmare," Robinson said about the missed free throws. "That last shot by Gerry [Abadiano] could have come in. Those threes by [JD Cagulangan]. I was there when he took that three back in Season 84,” said Robinson. 

“Those things were going through my head. Lord, if bibigay mo sa amin to, 'pag hindi okay na ako. Kasi we fought until that final possession. But basketball gods have been good to us. These guys just don’t give up. I think that’s the win for us. The big win for us is just we stuck together. ‘Yun ang mas importante sa akin,” he continued. 

Robinson also insisted that trust prevailed among the Green Archers in their respective roles in Game 2 which was evident when Quiambao came off the bench. 

“It’s all about trust. You always talk about trust and trust is not an instruction. I’m not gonna tell these guys to trust each other, but it’s a feeling,” he said. 

From chasing the title last year to trying to retain it this season, the 49-year-old tactician is still feeling the same nerves and pressure as he did then, but he understands that nothing great ever comes easy. 

“I think the feeling is the same. It’s just a different scenario. Ang sa akin sabi ko just give us another experience, something that we could learn from. It was given to us. Sa amin na ngayon paano gagawin namin sa opportunity na binigay sa amin,” he concluded.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News