Throughout the season, no other team has experienced riding through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows than the De La Salle University Green Archers, who just barely made it to the final four as the number four seed after finishing the elimination round with an 8-6 win-loss record.
In the first round, Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan suffered MCL injuries, which kept them out of multiple games. In the second round, Vhoris Marasigan and EJ Gollena were slapped with separate suspensions due to disqualifying fouls.
At some point, veteran forward JC Macalalag also missed a game due to a nose injury, while rookie Lebron Daep has not been playing for five games already due to illness.
“We’re just so blessed and fortunate to have this group of guys that are willing to support each other, but we keep going back to those challenges,” he said after pushing the top-seeded National University Bulldogs to a do-or-die game in the semifinals. “When we were down earlier, we reminded everyone: what worked for us? That’s about playing for each other. It’s a constant reminder of what we went through this season.”
Now that the Green Archers are playing with a complete lineup, Robinson reminded his ward not to play selfish basketball.
“Automatic, they realize we can’t waste this chance by playing selfish basketball. Even I have to remind myself, and the players to remind me, to always remember what worked for us in those challenging times,” he said.
Regardless of the result of Saturday’s match, Robinson can proudly say that the team did not prioritise victories over the health of its players.
“If you’re not 100%, you’re not ready. We don’t want to compromise a young athlete’s career just to win games. The support of our management ensures we protect these valuable players and never put them at risk,” he said.
“This team will not just roll through; we’ll stay humble and learn from the mistakes we made. Those lessons will be what we bring into Saturday’s game.”
Redemption, Not Revenge: Mason Amos’ Clear Path Forward
When talking about injuries, there is no better player to talk about than Mason Amos. In their first round game against the Bulldogs, Amos suffered an MCL injury after colliding with teammate Kean Baclaan and Gelo Santiago of the Bulldogs.
After missing seven of their games, Amos returned to the court against the Bulldogs in their second-round encounter, where he scored eight points. More than the numbers, his presence on the court gave La Salle something else: another shot at the finals.
“Just the mentality to win. I’m not thinking about what happened before, even getting hit by NU. That’s in the past. I’m just grateful to be here, grateful to put on my shoes again, and all glory to God,” he said after defeating the Bulldogs in the semifinals.
Coincidentally, Santiago also returned to the court in the Bulldogs’ semifinals match against the Green Archers after serving his five-game suspension.
Mason said, “I wasn’t thinking about him. It could have happened to anybody; it just happened to be me. I don’t regret going through it. I’m just grateful for where I am right now. I’m blessed.”
Now that the chance of making a return trip to the finals is close, Amos was just excited that he got another opportunity to play in the semifinals.
“I’m super excited. This is what we live for. This is what athletes dream of. The Final Four is a big stage, but we stay grounded and humble,” he ended.
