After reclaiming the title last season, the DLSU Green Archers look to build a dynasty with back-to-back championships as they take it one game at a time in UAAP Season 87.
"Winning takes talent, to repeat takes character."
De La Salle University sits comfortably at the UAAP mountaintop after reclaiming the title in Season 86.
But with a new season just around the corner, new challenges await the Green Archers, who are looking to build their own dynasty by going back-to-back.
Head coach: Topex Robinson
Team captains: Michael Phillips
Key Additions: Henry Agunanne, Doy Dungo, Alex Konov, Lian Ramiro, Matthew Rubico
Key losses: Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, Francis Escandor, Ben Phillips, Jonnel Policarpio, Joaqui Manuel
Season 86 record: 11-3 (champions)
La Salle took a massive hit with the loss of several veterans in the team, most notably point guard Evan Nelle.
[ALSO READ: UAAP: Former La Salle champ and PBA rookie Evan Nelle feels Green Archers' title repeat within reach]
In fact, if there’s anything that fans have questioned about DLSU’s back-to-back title bid, it’s whether or not the defending champions will have a steady guard to calm the team.
Well, if there’s any indication of what the Green Archers could achieve in Season 87, just look at the team’s preseason success.
The Taft-based squad first won the PBA D-League and the Pinoyliga Cup. Despite their final loss in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, La Salle quickly bounced back after claiming the World University Basketball Series championship in Japan.
At the center of DLSU’s success is undoubtedly reigning UAAP MVP and Finals MVP Kevin Quiambao.
In just his sophomore season, Quiambao averaged 16.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1.9 steals in 14 games, becoming the first local player to win MVP since 2015.
But even with his high level of play, which included two triple-doubles last season, Quiambao remains adamant that Coach Topex Robinson's system led to his success.
“'Yung triple-double naman, coming off the system lang and playing off each other, playing off instincts, so nakukuha 'yung stats na 'yun sa lahat ng teammates ko dahil lima kaming naglalaro sa loob ng court and each one of us [ay] may contribution sa team,” Quiambao told One Sports.
“I'm blessed lang na nagagawa ko 'yun [at an] extraordinary level at the same time, sinsusulit ko lang 'yung system ni coach [Topex] and 'yung instincts lang ng bawat isa kumbaga nagpe-playoff lang siya dun,” he added.
This was also the case for athletic guard Earl Abadam, who has continued to develop under Robinson’s system.
From the moment he accepted the coaching role in Taft, Robinson has always made his system and plan for the Green Archers clear. And in just his first season, Robinson steered La Salle to its first title since 2016.
“I wasn't shocked at all [at winning the championship] because coach Topex is very clear about what he wants for this team and he's always set the goal. It's seen in each and every player on this team that we've matured, we've grown closer together, and that has just translated onto the court,” said Abadam.
But more than on the court, Abadam said that Robinson has taught his players how to embrace the moment.
“We're here for a reason and all our hard work that we've done has led us to where we are now, so embrace it and when you're in the future, you wanna look back at the moments that we've had here. That's what he's instilled in us and that's what we try to portray.” said Abadam.
[RELATED STORY: Topex Robinson gets real on La Salle’s nine-game surge after dominating NU to advance to finals]
Though La Salle’s road to another UAAP title will not be easy, the Green Archers aren’t thinking just yet of their back-to-back title aspirations.
“Sa team namin, 'di namin iniisip 'yung championship, 'yung back-to-back agad. Iniisip namin 'yung process kung paano mao-overcome ['yung] nawalang five players namin na veterans,” said Quiambao.
“Right now, we are at an adapting phase na bago 'yung team namin and medyo bata 'yung team namin this season pero 'yung perseverance namin throughout the whole offseason,” he continued.
“'Di kami nakumpleto buong offseason dahil may kanya-kanyang injury, may kanya-kanyang battles sa buhay, so coming into Season 87, we'll take it one game at a time. We take 100% kung anong meron sa harap namin and control what we can control,” he ended.
Can La Salle cement its dynasty in Season 87? We’ll find out soon enough.