La Salle coach Topex Robinson during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—For coach Topex Robinson, preparing La Salle for Game 2 of the UAAP Season 87 Finals against University of the Philippines is like clockwork and keeping the team’s morale right where he wants it to be following a tough loss is the real challenge.
“The only thing I told the team [after the loss] was, this is the reason why this is a series,” said Robinson after the 73-65 loss in Game 1 on Sunday at Araneta Coliseum.
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“The players in the dugout just reminded each other to be positive and try to learn from this experience. That’s a tough team that we played against. They’re one of the best so we just have to slug it out with them on Wednesday.”
READ: UAAP Finals: UP shuts down La Salle to win Game 1
La Salle’s Kevin Quiambao during Game 1 of the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Finals against UP.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Coming into the game, the Green Archers had a four-game winning streak against the Fighting Maroons dating back to yesteryear’s Finals series where La Salle won after dropping the opener.
The loss to UP couldn’t have come at a more inopportune time but it didn’t seem to bother Robinson as much knowing his team has shown it can come back.
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“You don’t win a championship by just winning one game, you need to win two games so we still have a chance,” said Robinson.
“We’ve been in this situation before we just have to keep on being positive.”
Robinson, however, was more concerned about making the necessary adjustments for his star forward Kevin Quiambao, who was shut down in the second half after a blistering first two quarters.
READ: UAAP Finals: Jacob Bayla plays Kevin Quiambao stopper in Game 1
Quiambao, the two-time MVP, got off to a fast start in Game 1 with 18 points in the first half but scored just a point in the last two periods.
“They did a great job defensively in stopping KQ,” admitted Robinson.
“We weren’t able to make adjustments down the line. At this point, it’s just a matter of us really learning this experience,” he added.
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La Salle looks to force a decider on Wednesday for Game 2 at the same venue.