Jedric Daa had the tall task of defending La Salle’s guards in Far Eastern University’s 90-78 win in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena.
But when Daa was credited for the struggles of the Green Archers’ backcourt threats, he quickly deflected the praise to FEU’s big men.
‘That wasn’t just because of me,’ he said, candidly, in Filipino. ‘The bigs also did their parts on why that happened.’
‘When I get beat, they pick up on defense. That wasn’t all because of me. I thank them for that.’
Daa’s defense, backed by FEU’s interior presence, helped frustrate La Salle’s playmakers.
Jacob Cortez struggled mightily from the field with just six points on an abysmal 2-for-8 shooting night.
When La Salle turned to its bench and called on Joaquin Tovera, he also managed just eight points on 3-for-9 shooting.
Daa, meanwhile, did his job on offense much like he did on defense, contributing 10 points, two rebounds, an assist and a steal for the Tamaraws.
‘I had to run all over the court guarding Cortez and he just blows right past me but it’s okay because, again, our big men were there.’