LA Salle coach Juno Sauler tried to put their stunning loss to University of the Philippines behind them, stressing the Green Archers need to put in a better effort in a big game against Far Eastern University this weekend.
The soft-spoken mentor admitted the team failed to match the intensity of the Fighting Maroons especially in the second period when the Taft-based school was outscored, 14-25, to trail at the half, 41-28.
By the time the Archers were finally able to regain their bearings, the Fighting Maroons had the opposition all figured it out as they managed to fend off a late La Salle charge, 71-66.
“They gained the confidence they needed,” said Sauler. “We could have started the game better.”
[See UP Maroons are unlikely leaders after bringing down La Salle]
La Salle dropped to an even 1-1 card and lost to UP for the first time in six years.
“(We are still) very, very far off,” he added.
La Salle’s loss came two days after scoring a hard-earned 67-63 win over defending champion National University.
Sauler said he is only glad the team will have three days to prepare for unebaten FEU on Sunday in a game to be played at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“We need to correct a lot of things. We need to put a good game plan against FEU and make sure the players are ready. It’s a good thing we have three days to prepare for FEU,” said Sauler.
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