Evan Nelle vowed to pour it all out and extend the championship series between De La Salle and University of the Philippines in the UAAP Season 86 men’s basketball.

The graduating guard, who was evidently frustrated in the Green Archers’ lopsided 97-67 defeat on Wednesday, Nov. 29, was limited to a single digit with only nine points on a 4-of-10 shooting clip.

With the loss now behind the Green Archers, Nelle pointed out that the lack of collective effort from the team was the sole reason for their collapse, which was then something that helped the Fighting Maroons thrived in the decisive win.

“I think ang layo ng effort nila sa amin. They controlled the glass. I didn’t see the stats but halata naman sa game, they controlled the pace. So I really think that that’s what we have to improve on come Game 2. Effort isn’t taught. So we have to come out blazing,” said Nelle.

Nelle finished third in the statistical race for the MVP award that his teammate Kevin Quiambao is set to claim in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals showdown with UP on Sunday, Dec. 3.

While accountable for his own and the team’s lapses, Nelle is looking to redeem himself against a defensively brilliant UP side.

The Fighting Maroons converted 18 turnovers from the Green Archers to a huge 24-point advantage, while also limiting their own to just seven.

“UP is known for their fast breaks. UP is known, for like, once you make an error, they are gonna convert. So, it’s a point guards job to take care of the ball, control the team, and I don’t think I did that. I’m gonna go to the drawing board and see my lapses, see the team’s lapses and work from there,” Nelle said.

“I don’t think it’s the physicality. I really think it’s the effort, that’s what I saw. They came out like they were the underdogs, like they had their backs against the wall. And we came out flat, we came out like kami pa ‘yung sino rito. Kudos to them,” he concluded.