By all accounts, the De La Salle University Lady Archers have already achieved a successful season.
The Lady Archers clinched second seed in the UAAP Season 79 Women’s Basketball Tournament Final Four and will face the University of the East Red Warriors in the semifinals.
With the UE breathing down their neck, La Salle needed one more win last November 15, 2016, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to get that all-important twice-to-beat advantage. The Lady Archers didn’t need any more motivation, though, as they were up against the Ateneo de Manila University Lady Eagles.
There was also an air of revenge as Ateneo had eliminated La Salle in last Season 78’s Final Four when the latter had the twice-to-beat advantage. The Lady Archers had the chance to give the Lady Eagles a bad ending to an already dismal campaign.
After forty minutes of basketball, La Salle reigned supreme as they walloped Ateneo 71-60.
Key to that win was Khate Castillo who shot five out of 11 from beyond-the-arc to contribute 22 points to the Lady Archers’ victory. Castillo commented post-game, “Alam naman namin pag Ateneo-La Salle, big game talaga kahit sabihin niyo pa na Men’s lang yan o Women’s lang yan.
“Sobrang gusto namin sila bawian kasi akala namin kayang-kaya namin sila, parang nagrerelax kami pero tignan mo sila nagpabagsak sa amin. Hindi kami naka-abot ng Finals. Pero ngayon ang sarap nung pakiramdam namin lahat kasi natalo namin ang Ateneo.”
The University of Perpetual Help standout has averaged 20.6 points in La Salle’s last three assignments against UE, the University of the Philippines, and Ateneo.
However, Castillo shrugged off any credit. “Suwerte lang talaga atsaka sabi naman kasi talaga ni coach Cholo Villanueva pag-open, shot long. Huwag i-hesitate na wag itira,” she said.
While 2nd seed and a win-loss record of 11 wins and three losses isn’t something to scoff off, third year student already turned her focus on what lies ahead for the Lady Archers. UE will face La Salle on November 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum to determine who advances to the Finals.
“Masaya kami na naging second seed kami ngayon pero hindi kami pwede mag-relax,” assured Castillo.
A first UAAP championship since Season 76 is what has motivated Castillo and her teammates, but she knew there was still a long journey ahead before a trip to the promised land.
The Sports Management student concluded, “Championship (ang target), pero hindi kami looking forward sa championship. Kailangan namin muna mag-focus dun sa Final Four. Pag nanalo dun kami sa Final Four, dun kami mag-fofocus sa championship.”
