Mason Amos finally found his rhythm when De La Salle University needed it most.
After a quiet start to the UAAP Season 89 campaign, Amos rediscovered his groove against University of the East, leading the Green Archers in scoring to help snap their two-game losing streak on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena.
Amos poured in 19 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting clip, while also chipping in five rebounds and four assists as La Salle returned to the win column.
For Amos, getting back on track was less about changing his game and more about keeping his confidence intact.
“I think it comes down to having the confidence to keep shooting the shots that I usually take,” Amos said.
“At the start of the season, when I started to see my shots not falling, I had to always fix my head.”
The performance came after a difficult stretch for the 6-foot-7 Filipino-Australian forward, who managed just 18 points combined in his previous three games.
In La Salle’s season-opening win over National University, Amos scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting in 26 minutes and 36 seconds of action. He then found himself held to just two points in 27 minutes in their loss to University of Santo Tomas.
He showed signs of breaking out against Far Eastern University, scoring 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, but the effort still ended in another La Salle defeat.
Rather than allowing those struggles to dictate his approach, Amos leaned on the trust of his teammates and coaching staff. He also continued to take the shots he knew he could make.
“I try to shift that focus, that mindset to keep on shooting and having that confidence in myself, my teammates, trusting the coaches, and just trusting the whole program,” he said.
“I think it’s starting to help me with my rhythm again, so it’s a good thing to see, and I hope that it will keep shooting through.”
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
While Amos’ scoring touch returned, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson knows the Green Archers will need more than individual performances to navigate the rest of the season.
With a different mix of players following the departure of Season 88 Finals MVP Mike Phillips, Robinson emphasized that building chemistry also means being willing to confront mistakes within the group.
“This is a different set of people, set of personnel, coaches and players, but I guess you just have to go back to how it worked before, but it’s always different,” Robinson said.
“I always tell these guys that we learn and grow together, and part of growth is getting out of our comfort zone.”
That growth, Robinson said, will not always be comfortable.
The Green Archers must be willing to call each other out when mistakes happen, even when it means confronting one another, as long as it ultimately leads to winning results.
“Being called out by these guys if I make a mistake and them calling them[selves] out is what makes this a fortified team,” Robinson said.
“Kung puwede lang iwasan ang ganitong situation, whether we like it or not, it’s really going to be part of our season. We’re just happy to embrace it and not to walk away from it.”
La Salle has been in this position before.
The Green Archers also stumbled out of the gates last season, going 4-3 through the first round of eliminations. They fought their way into the Final Four picture and eventually capturing their second championship in three seasons, completing a championship trilogy against University of the Philippines.
This time, the reigning champions are again trying to find their footing with a retooled roster.
For Robinson, that means embracing the growing pains. For Amos, it means continuing to build on a performance that reminded La Salle of the player he can be.
After struggling to find his touch through the opening stretch, Amos finally gave the Green Archers a glimpse of the version they need moving forward: confident, aggressive, and willing to keep shooting.
