La Salle begins UAAP Season 89 title defense vs NU

De La Salle University will begin its title defense against National University when the UAAP men’s basketball tournament opens on Sunday.

The two teams last faced each other in the Final Four last season, where the Green Archers eliminated the twice-to-beat Bulldogs.

With a new season ahead, however, La Salle deputy coach Caloy Garcia said the team’s priority is to stay healthy throughout the campaign.

“I think the most important thing is try to be healthy during the season kasi that was one setback that we had last year. So, we're just hoping that we can be healthy and try to get us another chance again,” Garcia said.

La Salle will enter the season without Mike Phillips, who has used up his playing eligibility, as well as Kean Baclaan, who has moved to the professional ranks. EJ Gollena and Rhyle Melencio, meanwhile, have transferred to other schools.

While the Green Archers have added new players to fill the gaps, Garcia said the Taft-based squad will continue to rely on one of its strengths—defense.

“The positions that were left behind, we were able to plug in. So 'yun nga, it's just about figuring things out with the newbies.

“Si [Joaquin] Tovera is a very good player, but he just came in last month, wala pa siyang one month sa amin. So he just has to figure out the system, but we will always stick to what we're good at, which is defense,” Garcia said.

Far Eastern University and Adamson University will open the season’s games, followed by the La Salle-NU matchup. The University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas, meanwhile, will cap Sunday’s opening-day action.

—JKC, GMA News