SUPPOSEDLY, Luis Pablo was right there to flank Mike Phillips in holding down the fort for La Salle against the University of the Philippines' formidable frontcourt led by Francis Nnoruka and Gani Stevens.
Instead, he found himself tasked with trying to stop - or even just slow down - one Harold Alarcon who wound up with 34 points in Game One of the UAAP Season 88 Finals.
As Alarcon torched the likes of Earl Abadam, EJ Gollena, Jcee Macalalag, and Vhoris Marasigan, the Green Archers went to their 6-foot-8 forward to see how he would fare, whether that be as on-ball defender or rim protector.
In the second quarter, though, it looked like even Pablo was no match for the Fighting Maroons' three-level scorer.
Still, that didn't stop him.
"During the first half, when he scored on me, he was talking trash. I played good defense, but he still made the shot," he told SPIN.ph, as the State U scorer had 20 points to his name in just the first half.
"So come fourth quarter, when I had that block, I looked at him to kinda send a message na I won't back down. You can score on me 10 straight, I'll never back down."
Indeed, from the seven-minute mark of the fourth quarter until the final buzzer, the green-and-white workhorse was all over the Mall of Asia Arena, including twice turning back a hard-charging Alarcon.
READ: La Salle takes fight out of UP to move a win away from regaining crown
At the other end, it was also Pablo's free throw then short stab that tied the tally then sent La Salle ahead for good, as he finished with seven points, six rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
Luis the energizer bunny
In the payoff period when they outscored the defending champions, 21-12, it was clear to see the former NCAA juniors MVP energizing the Green Archers, and slowly but surely taking the fight out of his old alma mater.
"I'm the energy guy, that's what coach T (Topex Robinson) wants me to do. Not everyone can do what I do, sacrifice for that role. I've accepted that and coach T trusts me to fulfill that," he said.
Make no mistake, however, even as he stood tall over Alarcon, from those game-changing defensive stops to the well-earned win, Pablo had nothing but kind words for his ex-teammate.
As he put it, "Props to him. I was playing the best defense of my life, he was still scoring on me."
Whether Alarcon continues to score on him and his teammates, or yet another UP player steps up in his place, though, La Salle can rest assured that Pablo will not back down. He will never back down.
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