The DLSU Green Archers are managing victories even after losing two key players to injuries in UAAP Season 88.
The DLSU Green Archers are looking inward as they try to find answers amid a challenging UAAP Season 88, with their redemption bid marred by two devastating injuries to key players in the first round of the tournament.
Having turned a new leaf with three straight wins capped off by a convincing victory over UST on Saturday, La Salle has been defying expectations after both high-profile transferees Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan were ruled out of the season.
But with the rest of the lineup still eager to show what they’ve got, La Salle has been able to pull off a few surprises.
After avenging their first round loss to UST with the 86-77 to begin their second round campaign, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson underscored the importance of keeping within their own circles amidst all the noise.
“I guess, [it’s] also [because] we’ve been losing players. Still, that’s one of our drives going into these games," Robinson said, mentioning as well that La Salle had offered their win over UST for a manager who had fallen ill.
“So we just kind of talk about it, how we are playing for each other and playing for our school," he continued.
Tuning out the noise
Still, focusing on themselves and no one else is easier said than done.
Even during their game against UST, La Salle looked vulnerable at times in the second half, where the Growling Tigers came roaring back from a 22-point deficit to cut it to as small as six, 76-70, after a Gelo Crisostomo triple.
But as they put in the hard work as the season goes on, Robinson and his players now that they can let their play do the talking.
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READ: Vengeful La Salle gets one back vs UST to force triple tie at no. 2 in UAAP Season 88]
“We know how crazy or loud that UST crowd will always be. So we made sure we kind of quiet them a bit. They had some runs in the second half. They made the right adjustments," he said.
“But these guys just kept showing up, fixing whatever it is that we need to work on in-game situations.”
La Salle will be tested anew when they face the winless UE Red Warriors on Wednesday, October 29, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.