Mason Amos felt vindicated after winning his first UAAP title with the DLSU Green Archers, even after dealing with all the criticisms and injuries in Season 88.
Mason Amos was barely able to put it into words.
After everything he went through this season—the doubts, the injury, the noise surrounding his transfer—winning a UAAP championship made it all make sense.
“I can’t even explain it,” Amos said after the DLSU Green Archers reclaimed the UAAP men’s basketball crown with an 80–72 Game 3 win over the UP Fighting Maroons in the Season 88 Finals.
“Everything is worth it. All the hard work, all the days that we fell down, all the trials that God gave us. It’s all worth it.”
[ALSO READ: La Salle's Mason Amos leans on faith as road to recovery begins after MCL injury]
Defensive growth on the biggest stage
On the biggest stage of his collegiate career, Amos made his impact felt beyond the box score.
In the title clincher, he finished with 11 points, four assists, three rebounds, and three blocks, while also calmly knocking down the free throws that sealed the game for La Salle.
Amos pointed to his defensive growth as one of the most meaningful parts of his journey, crediting strength and conditioning coach Migs Aytona for helping him evolve on that end of the floor.
“All credits to Coach Migs Aytona. He’s the reason why I improved on defense,” Amos said. “My athleticism wasn’t there when I first got to La Salle. It was really just mindset—having confidence in myself.”
“People doubt my defense, of course. But in my head, I know I can play defense,” he added.
Moving from Ateneo to La Salle
That confidence was hard-earned. When Amos traded his blue jersey for green, it became one of the most scrutinized transfers in recent UAAP memory.
Fresh off his rookie season with the Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 86, his move to the rival Green Archers came with skepticism and plenty of criticisms.
[ALSO READ: 'I wasn't happy there': Mason Amos breaks silence following his transfer from ADMU to DLSU]
But now, with a championship to his name, Amos has no regrets.
“Oh, definitely,” he said when asked if the move was worth it. “People can say what they want. I’m a champion. That’s history. No one can take that away from me.”
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.