There was a celebratory mood around the De La Salle University Women’s Basketball Team after its 54-48 win over Adamson University in the UAAP Season 85 Women’s Basketball Tournament last Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
After five years in the wilderness, the Lady Archers have booked their place in the Final Four. It is the first time La Salle has sealed a postseason ticket since the team was led by the likes of Khate Castillo, Camille Claro, and Snow Penaranda.
“Siyempre masaya kase after six years, nakabalik ulit kami sa Final Four. Nagawa namin ng kami-kami lang na wala ng veterans. Kami na yung sumunod. So yun, sobrang saya,” said Ameng Torres, who led La Salle with 14 points, seven rebounds, and five steals in 15:03 minutes of action.
“Sinunod lang namin lahat ng pinapagawa sa amin ni coach during the game na maging composed at ok pa kami kasi lamang pa kami. Yun yung halos lagi namin tine-train sa mind namin na kahit anong pressure dun sa loob ng court, maging composed ka rin hanggang tapos ng game.”
Torres proved key when La Salle just led 50-48 with 54.6 seconds remaining in the game. As a leader in the current Lady Archers squad, she performed key defensive stops to help her team seal the win.
She even converted two free throws to give La Salle a 52-48 cushion with 48.7 seconds remaining.
“The good thing though going down the stretch, si Charmaine was diving for the ball every time there was a loose ball. You would see her as the first one to dive and she’s the veteran on the team,” said La Salle coach Cholo Villanueva.
“When you see the veteran on the team leading those hustle plays, 50-50 balls, everybody would just follow. We just wanted it more down the stretch. That’s why we won the game.”
For Torres, La Salle making it to the Final Four has been a long time coming. Season 80 was the Lady Archers finish in seventh place with a 3-11 record amidst a revamp after their finals run the year before.
Come Seasons 81 and 82, the four-time champions missed the postseason by a game. La Salle folded to UST 67-79 in the playoff for the fourth spot in Season 81 and finished with a 7-7 record in Season 82, which was a win behind forcing a playoff for the fourth spot.
“Rookie lang ako nung 2016. Nung 2017, we’re second to the last kasi. In 2018, muntik na makapasok and then 2019 same and then nag pandemic. Nung 2020 at 2021, pandemic so ngayon lang ulit kami nakapasok,” she said.
“Masarap sa feeling kasi parang as a veteran, nadala namin yung team sa unang goal namin, which is Final Four. Siyempre hindi naman dito natatapos yung goal namin. Meron kaming mas matinding goal na makuha yung championship.”
When the game was said and done, the Lady Archers, their coaches, and their managers exchanged high fives for the job well done before they sang La Salle’s Alma Mater hymn.
It felt good for the team that they are finally back in the Final Four. Despite that, there are three more games in the elimination round and they know that they need to build momentum before entering the postseason.
“Kailangan maging consistent lang talaga yung laro namin from the first quarter to fourth quarter. Kasi pag na-maintain namin yung ganung laro, mananalo at mananalo talaga kami,” concluded Torres.
