The Green Archers will start their UAAP campaign Sunday against the FEU Tamaraws. Game time is at 1PM.
La Salle is coming in with an intact core while bolstering their frontline with several highly-touted recruits. Simon Atkins, playing in his final season will again lead the team along with mainstays Spider Webb, Joseph Marata, Jovet Mendoza, Yutien Andrada and Luigi de la Paz. Other holdovers from last season are veteran Maui Villanueva and the sophomore crew of Almond Vosotros, Papot Paredes, Oda Tampus and Martin Reyes.
Norbert Torres, the Filipino-Canadian center will finally make his UAAP debut this season after doing residency for two years. He leads this year’s cast of newcomers which include Arnold Van Opstal, Ponso Gotladera and Dan Sara.
But perhaps the biggest addition to the Green Archers this season is the return of L.A. Revilla after a two-year absence due to health reasons. The cat-quick Revilla showed flashes of his old self in the preseason and expect him to be that take-charge type who will take the lead especially when the game in on the line.
For the Tamaraws, their frontline has been heavily decimated with the departure of Cervantes, Sanga and Noundou (injured). With only Ramos and Bringas (Mark) left, expect the Archers to assert themselves more in the paint. Of course, the biggest concern for La Salle will be stopping the high-scoring backcourt duo of RR Garcia and Terrence Romeo.
This game will be interesting. Last year, La Salle showed that they can effectively match-up well against the veteran-laden FEU squad. Though the Tamaraws are still slightly favored in this one, the Archers are expected to play all out tomorrow and try to gain momentum early in the season.
It is time to take away the “rebuilding” tag for this team. The Green Archers have already proven time and again that they can win against the top-ranked teams. With the experience and pieces they have now, they will contend this year as long as they show consistency on both ends and most importantly overcome their free-throw shooting woes.
The time is now! Go Archers!