IT was a players-only meeting after a 30-point Game 1 beatdown to the University of the Philippines that turned La Salle’s fortunes around to win the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball title last year.
READ: UAAP reviewing alleged spitting incident between Topex, Torres
And even before dealing title rival UP its first taste of defeat in Season 87, reigning MVP Kevin Quiambao shared how the Green Archers took matters into their own hands to avoid an encore of a seismic 71-75 upset loss to University of the East earlier in Round 1.
The message was clear within the defending champions’ camp: pressure is a privilege.
Sticking to their guns
KQ took the team meeting as a chance not only to get everyone on the same page but also to reflect on the sacrifices he’ll have to make to be the best leader he can be for the Taft squad.
Even as La Salle and the league’s overall leading scorer at the end of Round 1 with 16.43 points per game, the MVP frontrunner acknowledged how their offense shouldn’t just revolve around him.
“Nag-players meeting kami. Sinabi namin na pressure is a privilege at kumbaga, outside noise lang ‘yan dahil dapat mas protektahan mo ‘yung inner circle ng team namin,” said Quiambao,
“Simula nung natalo kami sa UE, nag-stick lang kami sa system namin. Sinacrifice ko’ yung role ko as a veteran na di pala kailangan laging puntos, kailangan ko din iinvolve yung teammates ko.”
It was an intimate and fruitful discussion that restored their faith in themselves — one grounded on the belief that they can beat any team that stands in their way of a championship repeat.
“Simula nung nag-adjust kami, maraming good things na nangyari sa’min. Du’n namin napagtanto na sundin lang lagi ‘yung coaches kasi nung first four games namin, medyo lihis ‘yung system sa gusto namin gawin.
“Pinagtrabahuan namin ‘to ng ilang buwan kaya confident kami na kaya namin silang talunin.”
Not KQ’s team alone
Echoing head coach Topex Robinson’s preseason sentiments, the UAAP MVP himself made it clear that the Green Archers won’t just be a Kevin Quiambao show.
La Salle’s mix of young guns and veteran mainstays understands how winning games isn’t KQ’s duty alone.
And taking off some of the inevitable pressure laid on KQ will be imperative to keep the Taft ship afloat en route to a sought-after golden double.
“I think kapag nape-pressure ako, tinatrabaho ko lang kung ano pang kulang sa akin, kung ano pa yung mga pagkakamali ko, then I adjust and learn.”
In Quiambao’s words, “Good thing na 16 kami sa team namin, lahat ng teammates ko nandyan para sa akin, lahat ng coaches sinasabihan ako na lead by example. Ma-pressure ka man, nandito kami para sayo.
“United kami dito. ‘Yun ‘yung sinasabi ni coach Topex sa akin na walang iwanan kahit ano mangyari, win or lose.”
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