DEPLETED they may be, but La Salle is on the right track.
With their Saturday win returning the favor to University of Santo Tomas, the Green Archers now boast of a three-game winning streak in UAAP Season 88, tying their most recent victims for third and fourth.
However, the Topex Robinson-coached team’s margin for error is getting smaller and smaller with their upcoming schedule, and it all starts with a squad which has surprisingly been a thorn on their side in recent history.
It’s not one of the teams currently above them in standings. It's not even archrival Ateneo or modern-day fierce foe the University of the Philippines.
It’s actually University of the East.
Among the green-and-white's five victories in the season, the one against the Red Warriors was their hardest-fought, where they needed an extended period to hold off Precious Momowei’s 42-point, 13-rebound eruption.
And in the previous four seasons when La Salle had contending crews led by the likes of Justine Baltazar and Kevin Quiambao, it also got tripped up by a ever-pesky red-and-white side.
“Parang meron kami palaging score to settle with UE,” Robinson answered when asked to look ahead to the two team's second round meeting on Wednesday.
“When we play UE, they always have a breakout game. So that’s why we're going to remind each and every one it's going to be a roller-coaster experience for us.”
Just last year, one of the Green Archers' two losses came at the hands of UE. Back in Season 85, they were one win away from the Final Four, but yet again, one of the notches on their loss column came by way of Recto.
And make no mistake, even La Salle's wins didn't come easy, even though the Red Warriors are still mired in the league's longest-active playoff drought.
That was very much evident in this season's first round affair, as it took 26 points from Jacob Cortez and a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds from Mike Phillips to fend off not just Momowei’s scoring, but also John Abate and Wello Lingolingo, who chipped in 25 and 24, respectively.
As EJ Gollena added, “Sabi nga ni coach, laging sumu-shoot yung mga tira nila whenever we play them. They're going to come out there and be prepared for us. It’s gonna be a fun game this Wednesday.”
All is Well-o Lingolingo?
Of course, that Round 1 tiff isn’t just fresh on the minds of fans just because it was an overtime thriller that tipped in Taft's favor by a solitary point.
That was also their first game since losing Mason Amos, and more importantly, the match where Kean Baclaan suffered the same injury owing to Lingolingo's dive for the loose ball.
That's why despite heading into the game at Mall of Asia Arena with Lingolingo and coach Chris Gavina still serving their respective suspensions, the Green Archers are taking on an eager and respectful approach.
“[We’re] making sure that we have so much respect for the team. They've always come out (guns) blazing against us. They’re always gonna be a deadly team against La Salle, so it’s gonna be a reminder to everyone in this team,” Robinson said.
“It's the way we're going to honor this game. This game has been good to us, and we have to respect it, and that’s the way we’re gonna look at how we’re gonna play UE on Wednesday."
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