MANILA, Philippines – If La Salle coach Juno Sauler will have his way, he wants to travel up north, perhaps in hometown Baguio City, with wife Agnes and 10-year-old daughter Lauren.
For Jeron Teng and the rest of the Archers, who won a dream double by topping the 12th Philippine Collegiate Champions League to add to their UAAP conquest a couple of months back, a much-needed break would be a welcome idea.
But vacation for Sauler, Teng and everyone comes a week or two from now.
“I still have games with Brgy. Ginebra tomorrow (Friday), on Dec. 21 and on Christmas Day so basketball never ends for me,†said Sauler, an assistant with the most popular team in the PBA today.
“As for the team, no more practice but the players are busy with their exams because it’s finals week this week.
“After the PBA, I could sneak that planned vacation in Baguio,†he added.
Sauler said practice will resume in February or March as it gears up for the Filoil Flying V Cup, a prestigious preseason tournament leading up the UAAP that it hopes to win to add to the growing collection of championships.
Just yesterday, Sauler and the Archers swept the Cebu’s Southwestern U Cobras in two games with a 70-61 victory in the PCCL finale at The Arena in San Juan City to add to the UAAP crown it snared two months before to complete a banner year.
And winning another title will not be far-fetched as it only lost one player this season — leader LA Revilla.
Fil-Canadian Norbert Torres has graduated but is planning to take up a Masters degree and will play another year for the Taft-based school.
Almond Vosotros, who is expected to take up the leadership cudgels left by Revilla if hasn’t already, will also be back for another tour of duty.
And so are Teng, the reigning UAAP and PCCL Finals MVP and Smart Player of the Year, Jason Perkins, Arnold Van Opstal, Thomas Torres and Mat Salem among others, they will all be back matured and showered with championship experience.
To top it off, La Salle recruited a talented guard in Terrence Mustre, son of former PBA player Mike.
“He’s talented, we’re excited to have him in the team,†said Sauler referring to Mustre, who finished high school in London.
But first, Sauler and the rest of the team want a well-deserved vacation.