This is one game the Green Archers would want to forget quickly.
Heading into last Saturday’s game against Adamson, many expected the team would carry on the momentum of their two-game winning streak in which they were shooting at an average of 43%. Unfortunately, an ice cold offensive start proved to be their undoing.
No field goal for the entire first quarter, 26% shooting clip, 12-of-21 from the foul line – what on earth happened? Never mind the free throws (we are used to that already), what’s completely baffling is the team unable to covert on their first 20 field goal attempts.
Funny is that during that stretch, they don’t appear to be taking ill-advised, bad shots. It’s just that for some reason, they won’t go in.
“First time [ko makakita ng ganun] pero alam ko it really happens in a normal basketball game,” admitted head coach Louie Gonzalez.
“Ako iniisip ko lang during that first quarter is for my boys na to keep their composure. I keep telling them dun sa bench while the game was on-going, kasi wala naman akong pakialam sa score eh. Kumbaga, I always tell them even if you take twenty missed shots, as long as those are good shots, you’ll be fine. Particular ako sa kanila sa ganun.
“I think in that first quarter, those are good shots. Really, those are good shots, it’s just that ‘di lang pumapasok.”
Despite their struggles on offense, La Salle still managed to keep the game close thanks to good, consistent defense.
They pulled to within a point in the halfway mark of the final period but the Soaring Falcons made the timely baskets necessary to get the victory.
Anyway, it’s all history now. Time to move on to the next game.
La Salle is quickly putting its horror shooting clip against Adamson behind as coach Louie Gonzalez turns his attention to the Archers’ next foe in the Far Eastern University.
The first-year mentor directed his players to be close observers in the Tamaraws’ game against Ateneo.
“Malaking bagay na nakikita nila kung ano ang ginagawa ng kalaban. We spend really a lot of time watching the games together kasi I take the opportunity every time na mag-viewing kami na mas ma-explain sa kanila kung ano yung purpose of the things na kailangan nilang gawin, especially with young boys like them na yung tendency nila, yung decision-making hindi pa ganoon katatag,” he said.
Gonzalez doesn’t want his players to dwell on what was a bad shooting night, knowing that with the defeat already accounted for, there’s no more use on crying over spilled milk.
The Green Archers are currently tied with the Tamaraws in third place with a 5-4 record.