La Salle hopes to finally enter the win column as they collide with the UP Fighting Maroons this Saturday. Game time is at 1PM.
The last time the Green Archers went 0-2 to start the season, they missed the Final 4. And if the team does not beef-up their field-goal percentage soon, we might see history repeating itself. In their first two games, they are shooting just 31% from the field. They are not going to win too many basketball games with that kind of stat.
All is not lost for the Green Archers. One thing missing in this team for the past two years was someone who has the guts to be the ‘take charge’ guy, someone that can be counted upon to consistently deliver on both ends of the floor. Based on the first two games, it appears LA Revilla is clearly becoming that player this team badly needs.
So far, LA has been the only consistent Archer, averaging 20 points and 4 assists per game. And with opponents expected to play tighter defense on him from now on, the other Archers have to step up and help on the offensive end.
The Fighting Maroons, coming in with a 1-1 record, will be led by Jett Manuel (17ppg), Mike Gamboa (14ppg) and Mike Silungan (10ppg). All three are perimeter players.
Another UP player worth mentioning is Gelo Montecastro. He is familiar to most of us since he played 3 years for the St. Benilde Blazers before transferring to Diliman. Montecastro is a big guard who loves to run on the break and slash his way through the lane. In their last game, he had 12 points, 3 assists and 3 steals.
UP’s frontline is not deep with only Alinko Mbah and probably Mark Juruena as their only legitimate big men in their rotation and both are not even a threat offensively. This weakness is something the Archers can capitalize on especially if Yutien returns from injury.
The Green Archers are expected to win here. If they can control the perimeter and assert their strength inside, they will be in good shape to get their first victory of the season.