Early in the season, frustrations arose amid the De La Salle University faithful (or fans) regarding the state of the team.
The Green Archers started their UAAP Season 82 Men’s Basketball Tournament with a 1-3 slate. And some fans were on a witch hunt for who to blame.
Some even went to the extent of calling Brandon Bates useless.
“I know coming into La Salle, there are massive expectations, especially big men, especially after Ben Mbala,” shared Bates, who only averaged 1.8 points on 36.4 percent, 7.2 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks during that stretch. “Sophomore year, you don’t wanna get into that slump, but I had that early on. It’s more just a mindset.”
Safe to say, it reached the Green Archers themselves.
“Unang-una, wala akong pakialam sa mga sinasabi ng iba. Hindi naman namin sila kilala, atsaka kami nagtatrabaho eh,” said team captain Andrei Caracut, responding to the team’s bashers.
It’s one thing to respond to the haters. It’s another thing to prove it.
But Brandon Bates did just that when La Salle’s back was against the wall against University of Santo Tomas.
The 6-foot-9 Bates had been absent from the Green Archers’ practices for the last two days since he was hospitalized. But he still made sure to play for his team.
“Brandon does what he does every day. Every day he comes to work, every day he brings his hard hat. Every day he’s gonna guard the best big guy,” said La Salle active consultant Jermaine Byrd.
“And every day he’s gonna rebound for us.”
In 20 minutes of game time, Bates gave La Salle the energy it needed to match UST. He crashed the boards and cleaned up the glass all game long, resulting in 10 points and 15 rebounds.
More importantly, he was a pivotal piece in the Green Archers’ 80-79 escape of the Growling Tigers.
For his part, Bates knows that he won’t be an ace big man like Justine Baltazar or Mbala. But he also knows that he can take the Green Archers to the next level in his own way.
“I realized I’m not gonna be a superstar like Balti, but if I do my job then I can help my team. If they wanna call me useless on offense, then please go ahead. I don’t mind — I can take it,” shared the 22-year-old Fil-Aussie, who raised his numbers to 3.0 points, 53.1 percent, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks since then.
“I put it on my Twitter that I’m useless. It definitely motivates me, for sure. I’m absolutely doing this to silence the haters.”
