Set for a do-or-die game against UP, DLSU will need to give everything they’ve got to stay alive in UAAP Season 87.
The De La Salle Green Archers have found themselves in unfamiliar territory — as far as UAAP Season 87 goes, at least.
Dropping Game 1 of this season’s men’s basketball finals to the University of the Philippines Sunday night, the Archers suffered their first loss to the Fighting Maroons this season. After sweeping UP in the elimination rounds, this loss came relatively unexpectedly, especially for the defending champions, who entered this series as the easy favorites.
“Times like these, you’ll never get back,” DLSU co-captain Mike Phillips reflected in a post-game interview. “The wins, you’ll never get back. The losses, you’ll never get back. Both good and bad come from the Lord, I’m giving glory in both.
“It’s really hard though. It’s really, really easier said than done. That’s what championship, that’s what finals is all about. It’s about embracing hardship. Nothing is given. Nothing is easy. We can’t discredit UP. You saw it in their eyes. I saw it before the game. I saw it after the game. They had that fire in their eyes and that’s something that we really gotta give credit to them.
“And that’s something we need to have in us.”
The loss may come as a shock, especially after UP put on an incredible defensive performance to really limit DLSU’s scoring. However, this is exactly where they found themselves one season ago, also in the finals, also against the Fighting Maroons.
In UAAP Season 86, UP emphatically took Game 1 with a 30-point win over the Taft-based squad. But in Game 2, they made a huge statement comeback to force a do-or-die Game 3.
The Archers will be looking to do the same thing this season.
Every player locked in
Every player is ready to play their role, whatever that role may be — this has been the theme that has been prevalent throughout the Archers’ Season 87 campaign. With a solid starting five and a solid bench lineup, most of DLSU’s players, from the rookies to the veterans, have stepped up in one way or another this season. And this theme applies, as it so happens, even to the players who are not going to see any playing time for the remainder of the season.
After the Game 1 loss, Mike Phillips revealed that among the post-game speeches that lifted up the spirits of the Archers came from Earl Abadam, who fractured his left ankle in October to rule him out for the rest of the season.
“Earl Abadam, he gave an incredible speech…His speech is all about believing,” Mike shared. “I think Earl is one of the foundations of our culture and he’s one of the foundations of how we’re going to move on. He’s not even going to touch the court. He’s not even going to play a minute. But how important he is and he really spoke earlier about believing. It’s really important to just keep believing in our system.
“When things hit the wall, you can’t drop everything. This is where your faith is tested in the Lord, your faith is tested in everyone, and your faith is tested in yourself.”
It’s going to be do-or-die for the Archers in Game 2 on Wednesday. And after both teams have proven themselves this season, the co-captain believes that it’s going to come down to passion and faith.
“It’s really about who wants it more. But I believe it’s about who believes in themselves and who believes in each other more.”
But Mike, who first committed to DLSU back in 2020, knows that more than words, it’s going to come down to action. As a leader and veteran on the squad, he hopes to lead by example.
“As a leader, words can only go so far. I think me, Josh [David], CJ [Austria] should really try to lead with our actions; try as much as I can to really lead them the right way,” he said.
“It’s not really so much about trying to replicate what we did last year. It’s about what can we do with what we have this year. [Members of the team] may be young, but those guys, I love them. I love how they compete and I love who they are. I think just try to lead with our actions and do our best.”
As Mike Phillips himself mentioned, words can only go so far. And come Wednesday, we’ll find out whether or not the Archers were able to take their belief in themselves and one another and turn it into a win to keep their title-defense hopes alive.
Banner image by Kieran Punay of KLIQ, Inc.