Days before Game 1 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 86 men’s basketball finals, former De La Salle University players gathered to receive their long overdue championship rings.
Teams from the fabled four-peat squads of legendary Green Archers coach Franz Pumaren from 1998 to 2001 and the 2016 champion batches went up on stage at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall Grounds inside the La Salle campus for the ring ceremony.
Flexing their championship rings, the former skippers of each champion team had their turn to talk on stage.
They had one common message in their speeches. They all challenged the 2023 La Salle team coached by Topex Robinson: Bring the title back to Taft Avenue.
Gathered in a couple of round tables along with his teammates, forward Mike Phillips took it by heart that they would get their chance to join the elite club of champion Green Archers wearing their championship rings.
“I remember what they (former Green Archers) said during the Animo championship (ring ceremony). They went to the finals, they lost and came second four times in a row before they got the championship,” Phillips said.
He was talking about the 1998 team that had the likes of Renren Ritualo, who had his No.4 jersey retired, Wily Wilson and now San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora who ended La Salle’s four straight bride’s maid finishes.
“I was inspired by their stories, all of the stories of the former La Salle champion teams,” Phillips said.
However, the current Green Archers batch’s own journey also started on a rough patch.
La Salle in its first finals appearance in six years got beaten badly by a seasoned University of the Philippines side in the best-of-three series — a 30-point thrashing to be exact.
But just like their predecessors, Phillips and the rest of the Green Archers battled through adversities to write a perfect success story.
La Salle got back on its feet and took Game 2, giving the Fighting Maroons a dose of their own medicine for a 22-point equalizer.
Then the Green Archers with Phillips, season and finals Most Valuable Player Kevin Quiambao and outgoing guard Evan Nelle accomplished a mission six years in the making — winning the coveted crown in front of a record crowd.
La Salle pulled off a 73-69 victory in Game 3 last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the school’s 10th title overall.
“I’m lost for words. Nothing really describes this moment especially with the guys I’m sitting with (Robinson, Quiambao and Nelle). They’re there with me every single step of the way and so, we finally got it. I just want to give thanks to the Lord,” Phillips said.
The Green Archers triumph also gave Robinson the honor to be included in the elite club of La Salle mentors who won the crown in their debut seasons along with Pumaren, Juno Sauler and Aldin Ayo.
Now, Phillips and the rest of the 2023 Green Archers will be anticipating another ring ceremony, this time with them on stage.
