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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider La Salle to work on defense in UAAP finals matchup vs UP

La Salle to work on defense in UAAP finals matchup vs UP

Published Nov 26, 2023 09:31 am

At A Glance

  • Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson wants a rock-solid defense from La Salle when it tackles UP in Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

No rebounds, no rings if De La Salle fails to contain University of the Philippines in their first-ever UAAP finals showdown. 

Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson wants a rock-solid defense from La Salle when it tackles UP in Game 1 of their best-of-three championship series on Wednesday, Nov. 29.

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La Salle’s Topex Robinson and Kevin Quiambao. (UAAP Media)

La Salle may be riding on a nine-game winning streak heading to its first finals appearance in six years, but much work remains to be done.

“They know how important rebounding is. No rebounds, no rings. So we have to make sure that we work on it. Having those guys for UP is gonna be a big challenge for us,” said Robinson.

“But again, that’s just one part of the things that we need to take care of. That team’s loaded with really super star players. We just have to make sure the only way to beat the team is to outwork them. And that’s really gonna be our main focus. We just have to bring our discipline against UP,” he furthered.

With all-around displays from MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao, who delivered two rare triple-doubles this season, graduating Evan Nelle and big man Mike Phillips, Robinson is expecting the rest of the Green Archers to follow suit against a top-seeded UP side.

While La Salle is relishing its trip back to the finals since Season 80, UP is most likely leaning on its back-to-back contrasting finals experiences.

The Green Archers last achieved glory in Season 79 behind the Ben Mbala brilliance, something that the Taft-based is looking to emulate this season.

“Those nine games are already done and over with. It brought us to the finals, but it’s not gonna define this championship. We know UP, they been here for the longest time, they have a great team and we just wanna keep on competing against the best,” said Robinson.

Related Tags

Evan Nelle UAAP Season 86 Topex Robinson La Salle Green Archers Kevin Quiambao
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