By: Dominic Adrian Veloso
De La Salle University’s hard-earned victory over archrival Ateneo de Manila University came with a potentially costly setback, as rookie sensation Joaquin Tovera injured his right ankle in the Green Archers’ 76-73 overtime triumph in the UAAP Season 89 Collegiate Men’s Basketball Tournament on Saturday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
With a crucial one-week break ahead, La Salle is hoping to use the time to get its key players back to full strength, particularly Tovera, who went down with less than 40 seconds remaining in overtime.
Tovera, who once again stepped up in the absence of lead guard Jacob Cortez, tallied 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists before tweaking his right ankle on a non-contact play. The Green Archers were holding a 75-71 lead at the time.
Fortunately for La Salle, its next assignment is not until Sunday, November 8, when it faces the National University Bulldogs at the Big Dome.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“We haven’t checked on Joaquin yet. Hopefully, he’ll be okay. We’re fortunate that we’ll play next weekend pa,” La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said after the game.
Beyond Tovera’s injury, the break will also be crucial for Cortez, who missed his second consecutive game because of an apparent right knee injury sustained in the Green Archers’ second-round victory over the winless University of the East on October 21.
Despite Cortez’s continued absence, however, La Salle has managed to keep its campaign on track, following up its victory over the University of Santo Tomas with another hard-fought win against the Blue Eagles.
Robinson hopes the additional recovery time will give Cortez a chance to return against NU, while the continued absence of key players presents an opportunity for others to step up.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
“That one week is gonna be important, also for Jacob. I think that will give Jacob a chance to go back in our next game versus NU. No matter what, we have guys who are willing to take that opportunity. We saw some glimpse of Mikey [Cortez]; we saw some glimpses of Guillian Quines. Those are just opportunities for others to shine,” Robinson shared.
The La Salle mentor also has reason to trust his team’s depth, having navigated a similarly challenging campaign last season.
In Season 88, the Green Archers overcame separate medial collateral ligament injuries to Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan, as well as the suspensions of Vhoris Marasigan and EJ Gollena, to emerge as champions.
La Salle ultimately became only the second fourth-seeded team in the Final Four era to capture the men’s basketball crown, reinforcing Robinson’s belief that the team must be ready to respond whenever adversity strikes.
“We just make sure that we try to get better and do with what we have. This is the reason why we’re 16 players in the team. If somebody goes down, somebody else will step up because nobody else will. There’s nobody there that’s gonna come and save the game for us but the guys in the circle of safety,” Robinson said.
“We just try to get everybody ready; I think we’re just fortunate enough to have those support groups in our coaches who try to get everybody active, mentally as well. Again, we just try to recycle what we have and try to grind it out with the teams.”
