Coming from a disappointing season 74, the DLSU Green Archers bounced back with vengeance, finishing this season with a 9-5 record, and more importantly, ending the season in the Final Four. The Archers accomplished an exact opposite record to the team’s performance last year after barging in the top four via a playoff comeback victory against the FEU Tamaraws.
“ I think the boys really did a good job. The coaching staff, Coach Juno Sauler, Coach Mac [Cuan], Coach Jun [Limpot], we were instrumental in transforming this team and it’s just [that] we fell short,” said Head Coach Gee Abanilla.
After great feats, the Archers eventually lost in the semifinals to the team’s archrival, Ateneo, in a heartbreaking, 63-66, affair after leading by as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter. Led by Rookie of the Year Jeron Teng and streaky guard Almond Vosotros, the Archers showed poise and maturity despite adjustments and the team’s transition throughout the season. Moreover, the Archers exceeded expectations and brought hope back to La Salle basketball.
Resurgent Green Archers
Last year’s disappointing sixth place emphasized the need for changes in the team. Coach Gee Abanilla took over the coaching post. Moreover, the DLSU brought new coaching staff to its basketball equation. Juno Sauler acted as Abanilla’s first assistant while Jun Limpot and Mac Cuan took charge of the big men and guards, respectively. Joe Ward took the skills and conditioning coach post.
The roster
The team also added players like Teng, the top recruit of the 2012 high school class. The Archers has since resurged, and has led the UAAP in defense, allowing just 64.6 points per game as the Taft-based ballers grinded out wins with grit and hustle. Capitalizing on frontcourt depth, La Salle also led the league in rebounds, averaging 48.2 per contest, highlighted by a 66-rebound outing against the UE Red Warriors, a top UAAP rebounding squad.
Teng, a standout from Xavier School, has consistently led the team, and treated the La Salle community to one of the best Archer rookie seasons in recent history. He made his mark in the league in the team’s first round encounter with the NU Bulldogs. He exploded to make 35 points.
“Just an amazing kid, Ang maganda sa batang ito, sa simula pa lang ng tournament magaling siya; he has talent, but the good thing about Jeron is that his very coachable,” complemented Abanilla.
The freshman finished the season as the Archers’ lead scorer with an average of 16.6 points per game. He also contributed an average of 6.9 rebounds per match. His good statistical points helped him bag the Rookie of the Year Award. He also managed to and barge into this year’s Mythical Five.
After LA Revilla’s gimpy ankle began to limit him on the court, Almond Vosotros picked up the slack, finishing the season with an average of 10.4 points per outing. Fondly known as “vosoTRES”, the third year guard posed a threat to La Salle’s competitors. The former San Sebastian Staglet finished the regular season with a total of 23 three-pointers made—the most for any of Abanilla’s wards.
Norbert Torres also emerged as one of the most powerful big men in the season. Despite having struggles in the second round, he emerged as the Archers’ main man in the middle. Averaging 8.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, “The Bear” has given La Salle the interior scoring presence, which the team has traditionally lack. Given Torres’ presence inside, La Salle’s players gained footing in the inside post, especially when Arnold Van Opstal started to heat up in the second round games.
Torres had his finest game of the season in the Archers’ victory against FEU, the game that landed the team in the Final Four. The center scored 21 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter. He also hauled in 11 rebounds to tow La Salle to the Final Four.
Hope for Season 76
With just forwards Joshua Webb and Jovet Mendoza graduating from the squad, Coach Gee Abanilla will have an almost intact roster going into the next season. In the playoff and semifinal matches of the Archers, Abanilla observed an increase of La Salle patrons, which has inspired the team to do better next season.
He furthered, “So if we continue to have good support from the community, if we improve the things that we have to improve on, I’m foreseeing a better season next year. You value discipline, you value camaraderie, friendship and I think that makes a holistic approach to the players.”
