Joaquin Tovera wasted no time making an impression in his UAAP debut.
The La Salle Green Archers rookie erupted for 22 points to help the defending champions edge the NU Bulldogs, 89-87, in their UAAP Season 89 Men’s Basketball Tournament opener on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Tovera’s performance immediately earned the praise of Green Archers head coach Topex Robinson, who highlighted the rookie’s ability to contribute on both ends of the floor.
“This year, all the other teams will never forget Jacob [Cortez]. So obviously, [Joaquin] scoring that much, contributing on both ends, really helped us a lot,” said Robinson of Tovera, who also had one rebound and one assist.
“It’s nice to have somebody who can provide support for the team,” Robinson added. “Having a young guy together with our veterans is really going to be a big help moving forward.”
Tovera’s Role Will Remain Fluid
Despite Tovera’s strong debut, Robinson stressed that the rookie’s starting role will depend on the matchup, with La Salle willing to shuffle its lineup depending on the opponent.
“We always make our preparations depending on who we’re gonna play up against. Just like all of these guys, we kinda put things in perspective. Like, Jacob doesn’t have to start, Joaquin might start, Gian Gomez might start. It doesn’t really matter,” he explained.
“What’s important to us is there’s clarity in their respective roles, so there’s no confusion amongst them.”
For Robinson, however, Tovera’s impact goes beyond his 22-point performance.
What La Salle Saw in Prized Recruit
After Tovera played for the UP Fighting Maroons in the 19th FilOil Preseason Cup, the Green Archers saw something in the rookie that went beyond his talent on the court.
“One of the things that we put a premium on is coachability, and emotional stamina,” said Robinson. “It’s kinda a see-saw for him, it’s been a challenging experience for him, so what kinda stood out is him being coachable.”
That coachability is now being put to the test on the UAAP stage, after Tovera missed the chance to represent Gilas Pilipinas Boys in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup in India because of issues with his documents and eligibility.
Tovera explained why he couldn’t join the national team, saying he had to secure his documents from California before a school deadline.
“I wasn’t able to play because the real truth was that I had to get my documents from California. There was like a deadline from my school,” he said.
“If I went to pick up my documents, I would be able to play for this season because of the cutoff. But if I didn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to play this season if I played with Gilas.”
Just the Beginning
Now with his UAAP career officially underway, Tovera has already shown that he can make an impact for the defending champions. But Robinson knows that the rookie’s first game is only the beginning.
“It’s just going to get tougher from here on, and he knows that,” said Robinson. “He’s young, he’s going to make mistakes, but we just remind him that everybody is allowed to make mistakes.”
