ONE month later, the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup is set to end the same way it started: another showdown between modern-day rivals La Salle and University of the Philippines.
The Fighting Maroons ruled last year’s edition of the preseason showcase over the Green Archers, 87-76, led by an unlikely hero in Mark Belmonte who fired 12 of his team-high 18 points in UP’s first-half pullaway on the way to a first-ever Filoil crown.
READ: UP clashes with UAAP tormentor La Salle in Filoil Preseason finals
Come UAAP Season 86, La Salle earned another crack at top-seeded UP by coming back from 0-1 down against the Maroons behind showstopping performances from season MVP and eventual Finals MVP Kevin Quiambao.
It’s been half a year since a record-breaking UAAP Finals and it was UP that won their first match against La Salle since then, with an 89-77 tournament-opening win in the preseason tournament.
La Salle’s targets on their backs
From the hunters to the hunted, it goes without saying that although UP are the tournament’s last victors, recent history still sees La Salle reigning supreme not too long ago in the UAAP.
Such a change in approach from title-chasers to titleholders is one that La Salle head coach Topex Robinson wants his wards to imbibe as early as the preseason in order to not let their guard down for their upcoming title defense.
“Every game’s gonna be hard. Every team you face will always play their best because you’re gonna be the barometer of the season. Sabi ko nga, we all wanted to be champions but you know what the responsibility of being a champion is, and that’s hard,” said Robinson.
“You play a barangay team, they’re gonna beat you also because that’s how much winning a championship means. It’s gonna humble you, it’s really gonna ground you. ‘Yun ‘yung lagi naming ni-reremind sa mga ‘to and even to ourselves. You feel na nandu’n ka sa taas at any given time and everybody just wants to have a piece of you. You’re gonna be the hunted.”
There are, however, no complaints from Robinson to be in a new position wherein everyone else’s target is the same: them.
“We’re not gonna complain. We’ve been given a second chance (against UP in this tournament) which is gonna be the hardest, but we’re just up for the challenge especially since it’s gonna be UP."
Only way is 'UP'
For a team with a newfound winning culture to lose two straight times in the UAAP Finals simply won’t cut it despite positioning themselves as formidable title contenders.
“Coming short the last two (UAAP) seasons, ‘yun ang dinadala namin. We’re not gonna lie about that. Alam namin na it’s not going to be easy to do that (win the UAAP title). But there’s a process to that and it starts with our everyday grind sa practices namin, building ‘yung habits namin and ‘yung chemistry, sabi nga ni Maimai (JD Cagulangan) especially sa mga rookies namin,” said longtime UP deputy coach Christian Luanzon.
“For example, si Dikachi (Udodo) and si Jacob (Bayla) na kakapasok lang ngayong season, (it’s important) how not only they can blend in but also (how they can adapt) to the kind of culture that we want and ‘yung standard na gusto, not only ni coach Gold (Monteverde) but the standard that they put on themselves and sa team nila.
With an assemblage of veteran aces and up-and-coming stars set to stack the Fighting Maroons’ already-loaded roster, staying true to their identity as a champion side will still be the key to unlock another title run in the making.
“This is their team. Hindi ‘to team ni Coach Gold, hindi ‘to team ng (UP) community. This is also our team. So ‘yung standard that we uphold sa practice and sa games, importanteng-importante na fully mag-translate sa court.”
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