Us, Ours, and We: Minute details, collective effort are keys to La Salle's early success | ABS-CBN
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Us, Ours, and We: Minute details, collective effort are keys to La Salle's early success
Us, Ours, and We: Minute details, collective effort are keys to La Salle's early success
Rom Anzures,
ABS-CBN News
Published Sep 16, 2024 05:27 PM PHT
MANILA — De La Salle University's title defense in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament is off to a promising start.
MANILA — De La Salle University's title defense in the UAAP Season 87 men's basketball tournament is off to a promising start.
The Green Archers are currently at the top of the UAAP with a 3-0 slate, after the cagers from Taft defeated National University, Adamson University, and rival Ateneo de Manila University in the first week of this year's UAAP festivities.
The Green Archers are currently at the top of the UAAP with a 3-0 slate, after the cagers from Taft defeated National University, Adamson University, and rival Ateneo de Manila University in the first week of this year's UAAP festivities.
"We just stayed disciplined in what we do," said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson on what has been working well for the reigning champions after their 74-61 drubbing of the Blue Eagles on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
"We just stayed disciplined in what we do," said La Salle head coach Topex Robinson on what has been working well for the reigning champions after their 74-61 drubbing of the Blue Eagles on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
La Salle flipped the switch on Ateneo in the second half — with the Archers even shackling the Eagles to only four points in the third canto — and Robinson explained that it was a matter of living up to being the worthy rivals of their Katipunan-based counterparts.
La Salle flipped the switch on Ateneo in the second half — with the Archers even shackling the Eagles to only four points in the third canto — and Robinson explained that it was a matter of living up to being the worthy rivals of their Katipunan-based counterparts.
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"Ateneo threw a lot of freak defense on us. Good thing, we were able to get our bearings back to get the win," said Robinson.
"Ateneo threw a lot of freak defense on us. Good thing, we were able to get our bearings back to get the win," said Robinson.
"If it's going to be La Salle-Ateneo, there's no advantage. There's no team that has strength over the other. It's just making sure we come out there with all of our hearts, be strong enough, and be courageous enough because we need everybody's help."
"If it's going to be La Salle-Ateneo, there's no advantage. There's no team that has strength over the other. It's just making sure we come out there with all of our hearts, be strong enough, and be courageous enough because we need everybody's help."
Heading the crew once again was reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao who had a usual day at the office with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
Heading the crew once again was reigning UAAP MVP Kevin Quiambao who had a usual day at the office with 13 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists.
"Yung mindset ko coming into this game: Kailangan ko mag-step up. Nung game, medyo binatuhan kami ng defense ng Ateneo, bina-box-and-one nila ako the whole game," said the 6-foot-6 superstar.
"Yung mindset ko coming into this game: Kailangan ko mag-step up. Nung game, medyo binatuhan kami ng defense ng Ateneo, bina-box-and-one nila ako the whole game," said the 6-foot-6 superstar.
"Sinabi ko lang din sa mga kasama ko na: Be ready, dahil may mga moments na kayo malilibre. Dapat may confidence kayo to take that shot, and be disciplined lang," Quiambao added.
"Sinabi ko lang din sa mga kasama ko na: Be ready, dahil may mga moments na kayo malilibre. Dapat may confidence kayo to take that shot, and be disciplined lang," Quiambao added.
Despite the win, Robinson maintains that La Salle is still far from where they want to be if they look to complete a repeat of their title run in Season 86.
Despite the win, Robinson maintains that La Salle is still far from where they want to be if they look to complete a repeat of their title run in Season 86.
"We always tell each other that all teams are gonna give us a fight, they're always gonna bring out their best against us," he said. "We don't have control of what other teams will do, but we have control of what we're gonna do — that's what we're just gonna focus on. We made a lot of mistakes which doesn't make us a strong team, but all those mistakes will just get us better."
"We always tell each other that all teams are gonna give us a fight, they're always gonna bring out their best against us," he said. "We don't have control of what other teams will do, but we have control of what we're gonna do — that's what we're just gonna focus on. We made a lot of mistakes which doesn't make us a strong team, but all those mistakes will just get us better."
Two things that are certainly beneficial to La Salle's continued success are how they have been keeping each other in check, and paying attention to the smallest of details, regardless of their roles in the team.
Two things that are certainly beneficial to La Salle's continued success are how they have been keeping each other in check, and paying attention to the smallest of details, regardless of their roles in the team.
This was made clear during a first-half sequence between Robinson and Quiambao that eventually resulted in player and coach sharing an embrace on the court.
This was made clear during a first-half sequence between Robinson and Quiambao that eventually resulted in player and coach sharing an embrace on the court.
"May sequence na na-turnover ako dahil nakita ko si Henry [Agunnane] na nagri-rim run. Sabi sakin ni Coach Topex: 'Ba't mo binabato kung saan-saan yung bola? Mas okay na itira mo.' So yung sequence na naka-dalawang pasa ako kay Raven [Gonzales], tapos nakatira ako ng three points, nung shumoot, tinignan ko kaagad si coach. Sabi ko: Ano sisisihin mo pa ulit ako? Na-shoot ko na!" Quiambao said.
"May sequence na na-turnover ako dahil nakita ko si Henry [Agunnane] na nagri-rim run. Sabi sakin ni Coach Topex: 'Ba't mo binabato kung saan-saan yung bola? Mas okay na itira mo.' So yung sequence na naka-dalawang pasa ako kay Raven [Gonzales], tapos nakatira ako ng three points, nung shumoot, tinignan ko kaagad si coach. Sabi ko: Ano sisisihin mo pa ulit ako? Na-shoot ko na!" Quiambao said.
"Yung mga moment na yun yung ine-enjoy ko, kasi every game, may mga moment ka na kailangan mong i-treasure," added the reigning MVP.
"Yung mga moment na yun yung ine-enjoy ko, kasi every game, may mga moment ka na kailangan mong i-treasure," added the reigning MVP.
Robinson shared his own version of the story and expounded on Quiambao's point.
Robinson shared his own version of the story and expounded on Quiambao's point.
"If you notice, yung mga early turnovers niya, it's passing the ball with guys that are not ready. Sabi ko sa kanya: Hawakan mo na lang muna. Sabi niya: 'Hindi coach, ititira ko yun.' Sabi ko edi itira mo. Sabi niya: Kahit malayo, ititra ko ha.' Sabi ko: 'Itira mo.' which he did," he said.
"If you notice, yung mga early turnovers niya, it's passing the ball with guys that are not ready. Sabi ko sa kanya: Hawakan mo na lang muna. Sabi niya: 'Hindi coach, ititira ko yun.' Sabi ko edi itira mo. Sabi niya: Kahit malayo, ititra ko ha.' Sabi ko: 'Itira mo.' which he did," he said.
"Sabi ko nga tama pa rin ako. Tinira niya, na-shoot niya. That's what we were joking about. But again, for this guy right here, he's always gonna make you look good. That's the blessing of having a KQ and Mike [Phillips]. A lot of times, we just try to remind each other. [KQ] always reminds me if I'm getting so emotional, [Mike] reminds me also if I'm losing it. We always try to help each other out because we get lost, especially me."
"Sabi ko nga tama pa rin ako. Tinira niya, na-shoot niya. That's what we were joking about. But again, for this guy right here, he's always gonna make you look good. That's the blessing of having a KQ and Mike [Phillips]. A lot of times, we just try to remind each other. [KQ] always reminds me if I'm getting so emotional, [Mike] reminds me also if I'm losing it. We always try to help each other out because we get lost, especially me."
"It's really nice to have that kind of relationship with these guys wherein we kinda flattened the hierarchy. I'm not the head coach, I just happen to have the title but it's everybody."
"It's really nice to have that kind of relationship with these guys wherein we kinda flattened the hierarchy. I'm not the head coach, I just happen to have the title but it's everybody."
"We always use: Us, Ours, and We. That's really the key to this," he said, emphasizing the collective effort that goes into their victories.
"We always use: Us, Ours, and We. That's really the key to this," he said, emphasizing the collective effort that goes into their victories.
The Green Archers return to action on Sunday, September 22 against the University of the East.
The Green Archers return to action on Sunday, September 22 against the University of the East.
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