Now at full strength, the DLSU Green Archers look to overcome the odds against the top-seeded NU Bulldogs.
There was a lot of reason to be excited about DLSU heading into the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
After all, even if they had lost Kevin Quiambao in the offseason, set to don the Green Archer jersey were the likes of Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, and Luis Pablo — blue-chip transferees who were finally through with their redshirt year in Season 87.
However, it didn’t take long before adversity struck the star-studded Archers, with Amos and Baclaan suffering medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries that worsened their struggles in the early part of the season.
Yet the Archers continued to fight, even if their character-defining wins were soon dampened by untimely suspensions and a crucial losing skid that nearly derailed their Final Four aspirations.
Despite all the challenges they faced in the eliminations, DLSU would eventually make the Final Four, even going on to upset the top-seeded NU Bulldogs to force a rubber match for a coveted finals ticket.
“For us, it’s really been hard to make it here. It wasn’t given to us. We earned it together. It’s really big to lose Kean and Mason at the start of the season; again we’re just fortunate, and we’re blessed to have these players that are really willing to give up their own agenda heading into the season just to contribute,” reflected head coach Topex Robinson after DLSU’s 87-77 win over the Bulldogs on Wednesday, December 3.
“It’s really hard to take care of all this talent and put it in one basket without the basket rotting, but again, these guys were really positive, and were led by possitive leaders It’s just a testament to how these guys really, really support and trust each other.”
More than keeping their title hopes alive, Wednesday’s Final Four win had the Archers playing at full strength, with Baclaan making a timely return to the lineup nearly two months after tearing his MCL against the UE Red Warriors. It was their first time parading a complete lineup since Amos suffered his own MCL tear against NU last October 15.
DLSU’s renewed fire was evident against the Bulldogs, as seen in the balanced attack led by ace guard Jacob Cortez with 13 points and four assists and Mike Phillips with a monster double-double of 12 points and 17 rebounds.
EJ Gollena chipped in 11 points and three boards in his first game back from a suspension, while Vhoris Marasigan added 10. JC Macalalag and Luis Pablo chipped in nine points apiece, while Amos hit two huge triples in the final minutes to add eight points. Baclaan, meanwhile, finished with six points in his comeback along with co-captain Earl Abadam.
And for Robinson, DLSU’s resurgence is the product of patience, with the Archers choosing to fight through struggles, rather than taking shortcuts just to have a complete lineup.
“Well first, we could have shortcutted the process because of the pressure of us delivering, but we opted to do the right thing and to make sure that we’re not going to play any player that’s not 100 percent,” said Robinson, who also tipped his hat to the DLSU medical staff.
“If you’re not 100 percent, that means you’re not ready, and we don’t want to compensate a young athlete’s career just because we want to win games. And that’s with the support that we got from management, that we’re always going to make sure to protect these valuable assets we have and not putting them in harm’s way.”
Along with placing a premium on recovery, the circumstances also favored the Archers, with Robinson citing the recent Typhoon Uwan that gave them a one-week recovery, and even the Season 88 Cheerdance Competition that was held last November 29.
“I guess all the stars are aligning our way, but obviously the game on Saturday will be harder. This team will not just roll down, and we just have to make sure that we’ll always be humbled by this experience, knowing that we still made a ton of mistakes in the things that we shouldn’t have done,” Robinson said.
“So we just wanna learn, and those moments of learning that we got from here, we’re gonna make sure that we’re gonna bring it come Saturday’s game.”
Now that they’ve made their way back to the lineup, will we see more minutes from Amos and Baclaan? As with their recovery journey, Robinson says that health will remain the priority, especially for Baclaan.
“Again, depending on what the medical team tells me again. Kung ano lang ‘yung kaya, ‘yun lang ibibigay namin. We’re not gonna force it just because it’s a do-or-die game,” he said.
Images taken by Kieran Punay/KLIQ Inc.