La Salle leads race to overall title in UAAP
LA Salle leads the race for general championship in Season 76 of the UAAP, boosted by its success in men’s and women’s basketball.
The Archers, who won their first ever general championship in Season 75, has 162 points to lead perennial general champion UST (146) by 16 points.
The twin titles in basketball plus victories in men’s table tennis and taekwondo and women’s judo put La Salle on top.
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Revilla’s early departure a challenge to young La Salle guards
LA REVILLA’S sudden decision to apply in the coming PBA Draft will definitely affect De La Salle’s rotation, but coach Juno Sauler considers it a challenge to the young guards who will inherit the job as playmaker when the Green Archers vie for back-to-back UAAP men’s basketball title next year.
Still eligible to play for another year, Revilla on Friday opted to join the Draft, leaving the Archers with the choice of elevating as starter either second-year point guard Thomas Torres or rookie Kib Montalbo.
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THEY were so used to the spotlight their entire PBA careers but for a change, Jong Uichico, Allan Caidic, and Jun Limpot willingly stepped aside and silently worked behind the scenes in De La Salle’s successful run to the UAAP men’s basketball championship this season.
Coach Juno Sauler paid tribute to the work the three put in when it was his turn to speak during Thursday’s ‘Animo Night’ victory party at the De La Salle grounds.
“They worked so hard like the players,” said Sauler.
During the same event, Sauler admitted Uichico, a former head coach of Barangay Ginebra where Sauler has worked for a long time as an assistant, was a strong influence in his coaching career.
“There’s one coach who stands out in my coaching career and that’s Jong Uichico,” said Sauler of the multi-titled coach and former natonal mentor.
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UAAP finals: A battle fought with respect
The people in the arena were more than energized to keep on cheering in the additional five minutes of play.
The DLSU crowd finally outdid the clapping tactics of the UST crowd by just chanting the lung-bursting “Go La Salle.”
When the confetti finally rained down and the Green Archers declared champs, the DLSU crowd chanted “Go USTe” along with their rivals, proving that in this UAAP battle, opponents displayed heroic efforts—and respect for each other.More at Inquirer.net
Improvement never stops for champion La Salle
Head coach Juno Sauler emphasized that the Green Archers’ drive to the championship was anchored on just day-to-day improvement. He previously mentioned that they clamored about the title, but instead focused on how they could become better every time.
“I never stressed winning to this team, never stressed the championship, it’s all about improving and getting better at a daily basis,” he said after winning Game 3 of the Finals.
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Why greatness never ends in the UAAP
In one tale, we have a Cinderella team finding its bearings at the right time and winning the elusive UAAP title. On the other, we have a Cinderella team that squandered its chances and, consequently, was left with a slew of could-have-beens for the second year in a row.
In the middle of it all stood two brothers in each other’s arms, one in tears while another beaming with pride.
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Uichico counting on Van Opstal as SEAG team braces for surprises from Indonesia
GILAS cadet coach Jong Uichico is counting on De La Salle big man Arnold Van Opstal to shore up the frontline of the national team as he braces for surprises from Indonesia and other regional rivals in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.
Uichico said he understands Van Opstal’s academic concerns, which is why he is giving him some time to get the necessary clearance from the school first before joining the national team.
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La Salle coaches attend Spurs camp
La Salle head coach Juno Sauler and assistants Allan Caidic and Jun Limpot are in San Antonio, Texas, to observe the workouts of the four-time NBA champion Spurs and watch two pre-season games at the AT&T Center on assistant coach Chip Engelland’s invitation.
Sauler, Caidic and Limpot left Manila on a PAL flight last Saturday night and flew to San Antonio via San Francisco and Dallas. They return home next week. La Salle’s No. 1 patron Ambassador Eduardo (Danding) Cojuangco decided to send the coaches to the Spurs camp two months before the Archers clinched the UAAP senior men’s basketball championship last Oct. 12.
“The trip isn’t a bonus or a reward for the coaches because Ambassador Danding had this in mind even before the Archers swept the second round and strung up nine wins in a row,” a La Salle insider said. “He asked Chip to show the ropes to the coaches and expose them to how a first-class organization in the NBA works.”
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Believe it or not, La Salle coach Juno Sauler almost played for the Ateneo senior varsity basketball team in the UAAP before deciding to stay green instead of turning blue.
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NCAA Updates
The St. Benilde Blazers falls to San Sebastian in their final game of the season 62-69. They will finish in 9th place at 5-13
Box Scores
SSCR (69) — Perez 17, De Vera 10, Ortuoste 10, Tano 10, Dela Cruz 9, Guinto 7, Vergara 4, Balucanag 2, Gusi 0, Trinidad 0, Aquino 0.
CSB (62) — Romero 23, Grey 14, Taha 11, Jonson 4, Bartolo 3, Ongteco 3, Sinco 2, Garcia 2, Nayve 0, Saavedra 0, Argamino 0.
Quarters: 17-9, 31-22, 47-46, 69-62.
In Juniors basketball, LSGH loses to San Sebastian 66-73. The Greenies finish the elimination around at 13-5 and will be the third seed in the semis.
Box Scores
SSCR (73) — Navarro 23, Costelo 17, Calisaan 10, Tong 9, Gatdula 4, Cruz 2, Gayosa 2, Loor 2, Ilagan 2, Magno 2, Santos 0, Sera Josef 0, Causon 0.
LSGH (66) — Paras 19, Rivero 16, Barrera 10, Dela Cruz 9, Abadeza 4, San Juan 4, Ramilo 2, Gob 0, Salonga 0, RP Rivero 0, Lanot 0.
Quarters: 22-12, 41-26, 53-50, 73-66.
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Gumabao won’t play in final year for La Salle
It’s final: Michele Gumabao will not return to De La Salle to play out her final year of eligibility with the three-time defending UAAP women’s volleyball champions Lady Spikers.
In an interview with ABS-CBNnews.com on Sunday Gumabao said she has told De La Salle head coach Ramil De Jesus that she won’t return to the team this year, despite having one more year of eligibility left.
“Ilang beses na rin kami nag-usap ni Coach na hindi ko na talaga kaya,” explained Gumabao. “I really told him that this year will be a year for me to spend time with my family and for myself talaga.”
More at ABS-CBN News