There was a sense of relief among the Fighting Maroons as the final buzzer sounded at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. After 22 days, UP had finally returned to the win column.
“It’s good for us to have the winning mentality. Our job is to bounce back and eventually, we got the W,” pointed out sophomore Juan Gomez de Liano.
De Liano, however, needed to work to end UP’s three-game skid.
The 6-foot-1 combo guard provided the spark for UP in the third canto, scoring eight points during that span. And when the De La Salle University Green Archers came crawling back, he scored back-to-back baskets to buck La Salle’s hijack attempt.
Besides providing buckets, the UP lifer had another job: To settle his boys down.
“It was just us not giving up. The pressure was there when they were catching up, but I just told my teammates to stay composed,” said De Liano, who had 17 points and six assists.
“I’m happy for my team.”
Now back in the win column, De Liano and the Fighting Maroons are savoring this feeling. And if they can continue this, he knows that they can beat the league’s best.
“Kahit na sino ang kalaban, we can really beat them as long as we have the right mindset coming to the game.”
