Five Green Archer squads were honored for their achievements that sparked the winning tradition for De La Salle during the Animo Champions Ring Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 27. 

The past champions of the school are hoping to inspire the current and finals-bound La Salle team as it tackles University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in their best-of-three championship series in the UAAP Season 86.

The 1998 squad is celebrating its Silver Anniversary since winning La Salle’s first-ever championship trophy under then rookie coach Franz Pumaren. 

And it wouldn’t stop there as Pumaren led the team to a remarkable four-peat title run that ended in 2001. 

Coaching two-time season and finals MVP Don Allado, the last local recipient of the individual honor from La Salle in 1998 and 1999, team captain and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and four-time UAAP Mythical Five member Renren Ritualo, Pumaren relieved the school’s former glory and hope for the current roster the same success in its tough climb back to the championship title.

“The 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 started the winning tradition here in La Salle and they were responsible for redefining the term angas,” Pumaren said. 

“To our 2023 team, good luck. I don’t know if this is the right timing to show you what we have accomplished, baka ma-pressure kayo. I hope you don’t get pressured. To our big guys, I know you are in great shape. I think you got all the tools, the preparation and everything, and hopefully the trend will start the ball kicking and be successful in this edition of the UAAP,” he furthered. 

Zamora, for his part, who captained the team to its back-to-back title success in 1998 and 1999, took the initiative to make the ring ceremony happen after a 25-year wait along with an organizing committee composed of former teammates Allado, Ritualo, Mon Jose and Dominic Uy. 

“Dalawa ‘yong objectives actually, number one is to give recognition to the players who sacrificed and persevered to give honor to the school by winning of championships,” Zamora said. 

“And the second, which I think is very, very important, we hope that through this ring ceremony, we can inspire the current basketball team to push themselves very hard to win the championship. Gusto naming maging aspirational sa kanila to,” he added.  

The 2023 squad, led by MVP frontrunner Kevin Quiambao, is riding on the crest of a sensational nine-game winning streak heading back to the finals after six years since Season 80. 

While planning the gathering, the former players held their breaths as the Topex Robinson-coached La Salle survived defending champion Ateneo to end the second round unscathed and eventually dominate its way back to the finals with a 97-73 thrashing of the National University in the Final Four. 

PBA coach Aldin Ayo, who towed the Taft-based squad to its mayhem championship in 2016 also in his maiden stint, deemed the current squad ‘hungrier’ for the title compared to its counterpart. 

“Well, both teams are talented. Both have a system that works. For sure both teams are motivated to win. But I think what will be crucial will be the decision-making during the games especially during crunchtime. It will depend on the maturity of the players. I think since six years na wala, I think they are hungrier compared to UP na palaging nasa finals,” Ayo said. 

The 47-year-old Robinson, who took the helm for the Green Archers earlier this year, was grateful for the opportunity to be included in the list of elite mentors who have won the championship in just their first year. 

However, he understands that taking down the UP side, which finished as the top seed, will be one hell of a job and that the pressure is inevitably going be there. 

“Hopefully, ma-inject sa team and inspire them to really do well this coming finals. Whether I like it or not, there’s gonna be pressure. But first, it could either stop you or really motivate you and I’m gonna choose the latter,” Robinson said.