Bottom line is the UE veterans stepped up to help their team win and ours didn’t! Veteran players who have seen the fires of previous battles are expected to contribute because (supposedly)they’ve been there. Now, if all they are going to bring to the game is verbal encouragement to the younger players then they should shed their basketball uniforms and don cheerleading outfits because frankly, with the exception of the 4 measly points, these vets scored as many points as those wonderful and tireless La Salle cheerleaders did that game!

Big players play big in big games. Still waiting…

In the last game vs UE, the trio of Mangahas (0), Malabes (0), and Barua (4) got clobbered badly by their UE counterparts – Llagas (22), Espiritu (15), and Lee (13)in terms of point production. A whopping 50-4! Had Mangahas and Malabes just contributed a field goal each, the Archers would have won the game. But no, they simply went kaput despite their long exposure, as is usual in their previous games. Should they be retained in next year’s team? Judging from the comments I’ve read here, a great majority favor their exclusion. In the corporate world, unproductive and non-performing staff are shown the door if the company is to operate efficiently and survive. But, of course, some will argue about “due process”.

The team management better realize what the sentiments of La Sallians and Green Archers fans are, in rebuilding the team for the future if it aims to recover its lost glory.

very well said.

in case they really want to win badly, well, it doesnt show in any of their games. we could see naman in their plays that they dont have the energy or the passion / drive to win those games. i could have been more happy if the team lost because the other team is really good despite the intensity and hardwork of the players. but that was not really the case…the vets dont have the intensity and energy kahit at least defend the ball or opposing teams man lang…no offense na nga, no defense pa…pano na yun?

take a look at the case of ferdinand, wala talaga mapapala sa game nya…so he is already gone deep to the bench in favor of bringas and the other big men…sana ganun din sa ibang vets (like barua, mangahas and malabes), let the rookies play na lang so they could gain the necessary experience for future tournament / games.

oh, well…every team cant really stay at the top every season / time. may ups and downs pa din…pana-panahon lang…and this season really is the downside of it. hoping that the team could end up at 7-7 at the end of the elimination round.

I have been witness to our beloved school’s ups and downs for the past two decades:

- the excruciating loss to Ateneo in 88
- the grand slam from 89 to 91
- the string of finals losses to UST in the 90′s
- the glorious 4-peat from 98 to 01
- the shock defeat to Ateneo in 02
- the resurgence in 04
- the vindication in 07
- the humbling setback again to Ateneo in 08

While physical talent can certainly help you win championships, there is one thing that sets apart our championships teams from our less successful teams – DESIRE.

And one can notice it in the eyes and body language of the players – especially if you see the games live (like what I have done for more than 50% of DLSU’s games for the past 21 years). Jun Limpot had it; Mark Telan did not. Renren, Joseph and JV had it; this current batch of veterans does not.

Did you see Hyram and Joel’s fire and passion in the last game? Now compare it to what you saw in the eyes of Bader and James.

I hope that my take on things here would not be misconstrued as player bashing. These are mere observations from my point of view. At any rate, and like what I said in my last post, there will always be poetic justice in the games. Basketball imitates life, doesn’t it?

That given, I like what I see in our team for the future (sans some moments of arrogance, i.e., that Webb kick/salute and Barua ala Arana dance of joy). Behave like La Sallians and we win as La Sallians!

Rektikano! Fight, Team, Fight!

ANIMO LA SALLE!