WHOEVER wins the rebounding battle wins the game - more often than not, as the saying goes.
La Salle learned that the hard way after getting outrebounded by the University of the Philippines, 51-35, to lose their finals rematch in UAAP Season 89 on Sunday.
READ: Pre, UP fight off La Salle to put ghost of finals past behind them
Green Archers’ forward Luis Pablo finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks, but his efforts were far from enough in the face of the Fighting Maroons' dominance on the boards.
With onetime man in the middle Mike Phillips having graduated, more of the responsibility to hold down the fort now falls on Pablo.
And the 6-foot-7 big acknowledges that he himself has to do a better job on the glass, where the battle goes beyond bigger bodies.
“Rebounds is more about effort, not just size. It’s about wanting that ball more,” he shared with SPIN.ph.
At the same time, Pablo said rebounding should not fall on the shoulders of the frontcourt alone, especially as Fighting Maroons just had their guards also making their presence felt on the glass.
Rey Remogat grabbed four boards, James Payosing also had four, while Rain Maga got three rebounds for the Diliman squad.
“I’m the big man, I have to lead the team rebounding-wise, but like I said, it’s a collective effort,” he said. “UP won the rebounding, but everyone was rebounding, not just the bigs, also the guards.”
La Salle learns its lessons
Despite the defending champions’ 3-3 start, Pablo remains confident they can figure things out - even more so since this was also their record early on before going on their title run last year.
“The season is a long way to go pa. We just have to focus on one game at a time and really have to study on the areas that we have to grow on and mature on,” he said.
“It’s a long season, but I’m pretty sure that we can do this.”
With Phillips no longer around to anchor the paint, Pablo knows his responsibility is bigger.
But for the Green Archers to turn things around, it will take more than one big crashing the boards - the entire team has to want the ball more.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
