Watching La Salle Basketball evolve this season reminds me of those tense volleyball matches where momentum swings wildly – like that Chargers game I once covered where they secured an extended third set after surviving three set points, preceded by four late deadlocks and two Creamline set points. That same resilience is what I'm seeing develop in this basketball program right now. Having followed collegiate basketball for over a decade, I can confidently say there's something special brewing here that goes beyond typical preseason optimism.
What strikes me most about this year's squad is their mental toughness – that intangible quality championship teams always possess. Remember last season's heartbreaking overtime loss to Ateneo? Most young teams would have collapsed after blowing a 12-point fourth quarter lead, but these players actually grew from it. I've watched every practice session this fall, and the intensity level is 30% higher than what I observed last year. Coach Topex Robinson has implemented what he calls "pressure inoculation" drills – situational scrimmages where players must overcome 5-point deficits with under two minutes remaining. They've run these scenarios 47 times in practice since August, and their success rate has improved from 38% to 72%. That's not just improvement; that's transformation.
The offensive system they're implementing is frankly brilliant. Instead of relying on isolation plays that accounted for 42% of their offense last season, they've adopted a modern pace-and-space approach that creates approximately 12 more three-point attempts per game. I particularly love how they're using Evan Nelle not just as a traditional point guard, but as a secondary screener in their "zoom" actions. This creates mismatches that lead to either open threes or driving lanes – it's basketball chess at its finest. Their assist percentage has jumped from 54% to 68% in preseason games, which tells me the players are buying into the system completely.
Defensively, they've made what I consider the smartest adjustment I've seen in college basketball this year – switching from a conservative drop coverage to an aggressive hedging system. This has reduced opponents' field goal percentage in the paint from 58% to 46% during their five preseason games. Mike Phillips has been absolutely phenomenal as the defensive anchor, averaging 2.3 blocks and 1.8 steals per game. I've charted his defensive rotations myself, and his improvement in reading pick-and-roll situations is remarkable – he's correctly anticipating passes 70% of the time compared to just 45% last season.
The player development has been exceptional too. Kevin Quiambao has added a reliable three-point shot to his arsenal – he's shooting 39% from beyond the arc after struggling at 28% last year. I spoke with him last week, and he revealed he's been taking 500 extra shots daily since May. That kind of dedication separates good players from great ones. Meanwhile, CJ Austria has transformed his body, adding 12 pounds of muscle while maintaining his quickness – something I rarely see players accomplish in a single offseason.
What really excites me about this team is their depth. Last season, their bench contributed only 18 points per game – this preseason, that number has skyrocketed to 34. Players like Raven Cortez and Jonnel Policarpio have developed into legitimate rotation pieces who can change games. I've been particularly impressed with Cortez's basketball IQ – for a freshman, his defensive positioning is unusually advanced. He's already drawn three charges in limited minutes, which shows his understanding of team defense concepts.
The culture shift within the program might be the most significant change. During my visit last month, I noticed something different in the locker room – players were staying 45 minutes after practice ended, working on specific skills without coaches present. That self-motivation is what championship programs are built upon. They've adopted what they call "championship habits" – from film study to nutrition to recovery – that create marginal gains which add up over a season.
Their non-conference schedule was strategically designed to test them in various situations. The close loss to a veteran San Beda team taught them how to handle end-game execution, while their comeback win against Letran showed their resilience. What many fans don't realize is that these preseason games are laboratories for experimentation – Coach Robinson has used 12 different starting lineups already, searching for optimal combinations for specific opponents.
The UAAP landscape this season presents both challenges and opportunities. Ateneo remains the gold standard, but their core has graduated. UP has reloaded with transfers, but chemistry takes time to develop. What La Salle has that others don't is continuity – 85% of their rotation returned from last season, giving them built-in chemistry that can't be manufactured. Having covered college basketball since 2012, I've learned that experienced teams who've suffered tough losses together often make the deepest runs.
My prediction? This team will reach the finals. They have the talent, the system, and most importantly, the mindset needed to compete for championships. The way they've addressed last season's weaknesses – particularly their late-game execution and three-point shooting – shows a program that learns and adapts. Championship contenders aren't built overnight, but through the accumulation of small improvements and cultural development. La Salle Basketball has been building toward this moment, and I believe this is the season where all those pieces finally come together to create something truly special.
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