HEAD COACH: Topex Robinson (3rd season)
LAST SEASON: 12-2 (runner-up)
HOLDOVERS: Mike Phillips, JC Macalalag, Vhoris Marasigan, Earl Abadam, EJ Gollena, Doy Dungo
SUBTRACTIONS: Kevin Quiambao, Joshua David, Raven Gonzales, CJ Austria, Henry Agunanne
ADDITIONS: Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, Mason Amos, Luis Pablo, Lebron Jhames Daep, Mikey Cortez, Guillian Quines, Bright Nwankwo (returning as FSA)
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TEAMS who lost one of the most talented collegiate players in recent history aren’t supposed to get better, at least on paper.
But this is exactly the case for this La Salle team which, despite losing two-time UAAP MVP and now Gilas Pilipinas and Korean Basketball League star Kevin Quiambao, will still be coming intoUAAP Season 88 as the favorite to win it all once it kicks off this Saturday.
“Nobody could replace KQ, but having a new team with a different mindset, a different face, it gives us a better chance of competing at the highest level here come Season 88,” coach Topex Robinson said.
For sure, there’s no player who can replace Quiambao, who posted averages of 16.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, four assists, and one steal last year enroute to his second straight MVP award.
READ: UAAP Season 88 will be proving ground for these players
But the thing is, the Green Archers aren’t just replacing Quiambao with one man – they’re bringing in four blue-chip transferees to fill the huge gap that KQ left behind.
Taking care of the scoring and playmaking will be the backcourt of Kean Baclaan and Jacob Cortez, while Mason Amos will be providing the shooting from the forward position to stretch the defense, like Quiambao used to do.
Luis Pablo, on the other hand, will bolster their frontline and provide toughness and rebounding that KQ used to bring, making sure that all the great things that he used to do alone will be well covered come this season.
“I would say it’s just more balanced. There’s more diversity in our offense, I think. Decision-makers now are gonna be more,” Robinson shared.
“I guess it’s really more about depth. Because having Kean and Jacob sometimes playing together, sometimes magkahiwalay. Meron na ka'gad, meron nang set na rotation this season,” he added.
“At the same time, it’s just having those kinds of leaders setting the standards for us. So it just keeps our standards higher on the players that’s gonna come in kasi yun na ang magiging barometer mo. Before, when KQ was here, yun na ang barometer mo, now you have more barometers for the team."
Long way to redemption
But Robinson himself knows that championships aren’t won on paper, they’re won on the floor and as talented as they are, it wouldn’t mean anything unless they put it all together.
After all, these recruits are coming from different systems and different roles – with both Cortez and Baclaan being the respective go-to guys in San Beda and National U, Amos one of the focal points of Ateneo’s offense, while Pablo tries to reestablish himself in the collegiate game.
Then you factor in the holdovers; starting, of course, with Phillips as main man, the returning Earl Abadam, and steady players like EJ Gollena, Doy Dungo, and JC Macalalag all looking ready to take the next step, then Robinson and the rest of his coaching staff will certainly have to play their cards right this season.
“Obviously, this is Mike’s team. It’s just being supported by the other guys we had, and also our returning veterans si Earl, si EJ, si JC, so it’s a good combination for us to have,” Robinson said.
“I guess what’s important at the end of the day is the buy-in. The buy-in of the players. You don’t want to have a super talented team with personal agendas coming into the season. That’s suicide in the making.”
And as strong as this squad looks, the worst thing that they can do now is to let it get to their heads.
“What worries me is being complacent. Once we think we’re better than everybody, that we’re not gonna challenge ourselves to be the best version that we can be,” Robinson shared.
“So I'm always making sure to keep them grounded as well as myself, 'cause you always hear you’re the best team, pound for pound you’re gonna be the best team, but that’s a recipe for disaster,” he continued.
“So we have to stay grounded, know that we’re a work in progress and we always have to police each other.”
New season, new problems
While most insiders and even opposing teams have La Salle as the team-to-beat, Robinson knows that they aren’t the only team who got better this year.
Aside from trying to get back at the always formidable University of the Philippines, teams like University of Santo Tomasand Ateneo have bolstered their respective rosters this season.
“Every year poses different challenges. You also have to consider that other teams are also improving. The playing field is different from three years ago to what it is now,” he said.
“UST’s really beefing up, Adamson has really been a formidable force, you always look at Ateneo and UP as the barometers, NU has always been tough to crack, yun ang nagpu-push sa'min. You cannot be complacent.”
But while Robinson has nothing but respect for these teams, he knows that there’s only one team that can deny the Green Archers' title run this year.
“We know that the only team that can beat La Salle is La Salle itself.”
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Read up on what to expect from the other teams in UAAP Season 88 here:
ATENEO UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Welcome to the Blue Eagles as darkhorse era
NU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Bulldogs' big picture now crystal clear
FEU UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Tamaraws enter comfort zone after 'Pre-xit'
UE UAAP 88 PREVIEW: Red Warriors giving swag with fiery Gavina in charge
ADAMSON UAAP 88 PREVIEW: These surprising Falcons just got taller and younger
UST UAAP 88 PREVIEW: This is Tigers' best shot at first title since 2006
UP UAAP 88 PREVIEW: It's Fighting Maroons against the world
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