DLSU may be down, but they’re not out just yet.
De La Salle University’s three-game losing skid has come at the most unfortunate time in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
The Green Archers slid to 6-6 after a heartbreaking 60-61 loss to the Adamson Soaring Falcons on Wednesday, keeping them at solo fourth as the San Marcelino-based squad revived their Final Four aspirations.
As one of the team’s veterans, captain Mike Phillips is urging the Archers to stick together, especially with their own playoff hopes now on the line.
“My focus and our focus within the team is really going to stick together; like we’re down but we’re not out,” Phillips reflected following the loss. “Even I was talking to Jacob [Cortez] earlier and Earl, and I was telling them that not one person is going to win the game and not one person is going to lose the game.”
Two of DLSU’s losses have come in one-possession situations, having lost to the FEU Tamaraws, 84-83, off a game-winner by Kirby Mongcopa, before the Soaring Falcons held steady in crunch time to keep the Archers at bay.
In both times, DLSU actually had their chances to come back. After a miss by Jacob Cortez, Luis Pablo was able to get a steal against Pasaol, which set up JC Macalalag’s attempt at a game-winning triple. Cortez and Abadam hit crucial buckets against Adamson to turn a 61-57 deficit into a one-point game, only for the latter’s go-ahead jumper to fall short.
“I know Jacob was tearing himself up last game and I told him that, ‘Hey, it’s not just you’. All of us is taking this loss hard, and I’m sure that Earl will be going through something also later. But I told him and Jacob that ‘Hey guys, I’m going to live and die with you guys taking that shot,” Phillips said.
“I see them practice those shots and as a leader, I just really want to support these guys in any way that I can. If it’ leads to scoring, then that’s good, and it’s just a bonus; [to support] has always been my role.”
Although the slump has begun to take its toll on the Archers, Motor Mike said that it all goes back to knowing their “why” as a team.
“We’re just going to revert back to what we’ve been building for a year or two now, and I just kind of echo the words of our executive director and [Office of Sports Development] head, her term for Season 88 was grit,” Phillips reflected.
“And no one wants to lose these type of games, but you can’t help also but to root for the Adamson community because in recent years, they’ve really been performing well as a program.”
Motor Mike knows that it’s up to him and DLSU to pick the pieces up, no matter how many times they’ve been knocked down throughout Season 88.
“I never want to take that road that leads down to self-pity or darkness because that’s just something that will follow you outside of basketball, and our role as leaders in the team is just really about grit and dragging our feet; just tightening our stance and really go out there.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.