The in-form De La Salle University Lady Archers have won ten games in a row in the UAAP Season 78 women’s basketball tournament, with an effective system which lets everyone contribute and have fun.
They have also managed to hit new heights, making fancy passes and spectacular highlights when the game is already lopsided.
But as the battle intensifies and the Final Four looms, the Lady Archers are beginning to set aside these antics to focus on how to be competitive in the playoffs.
“Sabi nila na puro showtime ang team namin, siguro i-lelessen na namin,” guard Camille Claro said.
“Wag lang kami magrerelax dahil yun naman ang kalaban namin. Ang next game namin ay UP, baka isipin nila na kayang kaya namin. Medyo malayo yung score namin against them in the first round.”
The Lady Archers sent the the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons to the ground in the first round with a 42-point beating, but the latter has been on a winning run lately, nabbing four straight games in the second round.
Claro knows UP has changed, and she hopes the entire team becomes ready to go all-out for the entire game.
“Dapat tuloy-tuloy ang competitiveness namin hanggang matapos.”
As the elimination round heads into the home stretch, Claro adds that La Salle is now trying to fine-tune its offensive execution, and limit their turnovers for the next matches.
“Sabi ni coach [Cholo Villanueva] na hindi pa tapos ang eliminations at kailangan naming ibigay ang lahat para sa Final Four,” she said.
“Yung mga mistakes namin, errors, turnovers, kailangan naming iwasan as a team and as individuals. Hindi rin namin ma-execute yung offense namin kaya dapat naming i-improve yun as a team.”
