Facing a banged-up La Salle side that’s missing two key cogs, University of the Philippines coach Goldwin Monteverde said his team’s approach remained the same ahead of Sunday’s rivalry game.
‘No matter who’s gone from their end, it doesn’t matter. We approached this game the same way because we know La Salle,’ Monteverde said.
True enough, the defending champions Fighting Maroons saw their four-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Green Archers, 72-69, in a rematch of last year’s finals.
‘They respond well with whatever’s happening. They’re also used to winning with their championship experience.’
UP may have prepared for La Salle’s possible adjustments without forward Mason Amos and guard Kean Baclaan, but the Fighting Maroons weren’t ready for the Green Archers’ rising stars.
Luis Pablo, who played sparingly for UP before transferring to La Salle last year, had his breakout game for the Archers as a starter in place of Amos with a game-high 14 points and six rebounds.
Jacob Cortez and EJ Gollena, meanwhile, joined forces in the backcourt to fill the void left by Baclaan with 12 points each to help La Salle gain a share of third place with UP and Ateneo with similar 4-3 slates at the end of the first round of eliminations.
Monteverde was not surprised with how coach Topex Robinson’s wards responded.
‘They know how to win. We never came into this game feeling [too] confident. We prepared like we usually do.’