ANTIPOLO — The harsh reality is that for the second straight year, La Salle will only be a bystander while four teams ahead of them compete in the UAAP Men’s Basketball Final Four.
This could all have been preventable for the Taft school, but this year became a series of unfortunate events for the proud program. Tough breaks in game-winners from UE’s Rey Suerte and UP’s Juan Gomez de Liaño struck them in the first round, while the Green Archers failed to execute their final play properly in their season-defining game versus the Fighting Maroons.
Down by just two points, a good defensive stop allowed La Salle to gain possession with seconds left on the game clock. Unfortunately, main playmaker Aljun Melecio then tripped and lost possession. His teammate Encho Serrano got the ball, but he failed to convert as La Salle eventually lost 68-71 to UP, Sunday.
“’Di mo rin masabi kasi nandun naman si Kobe, si Ricci, nagbaba rin sila, so alam mo naman na grabe silang mag-block ng fastbreak shots. So hindi mo talaga masabi. Tinry ko naman talaga na hindi madapa, pero nadapa talaga,” lamented the 5-foot-8 guard.
When the final buzzer sounded, La Salle’s fate was sealed. Meanwhile, their opponents basked in the delight of earning a twice-to-beat advantage for the first time in school history. From being champions in Season 79, it has been misery after misery for the Green Archers.
“Parehas masakit kasi ‘di kami nakaabot sa Final Four, pero andun pa rin ‘yung sinabi sa ‘kin dati ni Coach Aldin (Ayo) na kung may masamang nangyari sa ‘yo, i-cherish mo lang ‘yon. Hawakan mo ‘yon tapos ‘dun ka kumuha ng lakas ng loob, kasi ‘yung mga struggles mo, magiging inspirasyon ‘yun sa ‘yo at magagamit mo ‘yon sa buhay mo.”
One of the saddest ramifications of this situation, though, is that the likes of Encho Serrano, Brandon Bates, and Joaqui Manuel have not tasted what it is to play in the post-season. This just goes to show how bad things have been for the Green and White ever since they relinquished their crown in 2017.
“Hindi ganoon kadali. Two years na silang nasa UAAP, so alam na nila ngayon kung gaano kahirap makapasok sa Final Four,” shared the former De La Salle Zobel standout.
Now that everything is said and done, Melecio only feels regret after another wasted campaign for the Green Archers. Just like all failures, all these setbacks only yield lessons that must be heeded.
“Hindi lang naman UP. Next year, we’ll try to win, especially ‘yung sa round one. Masakit ‘yung sa UE eh. Next season, every game counts talaga kasi sa round two, kahit isang game lang, malaking bagay eh. ‘Yun ‘yung naging lesson.”
