Deschon Winston finally had a game to remember against Ateneo de Manila University.
The 24-year-old winger led De La Salle University in its first win over its archrivals since Season 80 with 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds in 33 minutes of action.
Winston executed a great midrange game which saw him shoot 47.6 percent from the field to help the Green Archers snap their seven-game losing streak to the Blue Eagles.
And for Winston, he had this game pencilled in for the entire off-season.
“It was definitely a game we had on our schedule for a long time. We were just trying everything we could to win,” said the 2022 PBA D-League champion.
“I kept more rebounds this time because they were a bigger team. I had to go and crash the boards. We just all wanted to win this game really badly.”
Despite the impressive showing, Winston actually bucked a slow start to the game. He was actually scoreless in the first period and just could not get going.
Eventually, though, the Central Michigan University product found a way to finally impose himself in the game.
Sometimes, it really isn’t how one starts, but how one finishes.
“In the first quarter, coach Tab (Baldwin) – he’s a really good coach – he put a lot of defensive schemes to kind of stop what we do best,” said Winston. “I just had to sit down and look at the game and see how they’re playing us and take a step back and see how I can be effective.
“Later down the stretch, I was trying to do whatever it took to get the win for our team.”
Without a doubt, Winston has grown into life in the UAAP. He may have struggled at times but now he is starting to show how good he can be on a regular basis.
What better way to announce himself on the big stage by leading the Green Archers to a memorable win over their archrivals whom they’ve struggled to beat in the last five years.
