Green pastures

NAGOYA –  For the second straight year, the La Salle men’s basketball team visited this inviting Japanese port city to play a series of exhibition games. The first tour was in September and the Green Archers compiled a 1-3 record, losing to Nagoya Gakuin University, 78-77, Toyoda Gosei Scorpions, 81-70, and Gifu Swoops, 80-62, and beating Veertien Mie, 89-85. Toyoda, Gifu and Veertien were Japanese B-League D3 clubs.

This time, the Archers came in the summer with the weather warmer than usual. Coach Topex Robinson brought over 20 players including four who’ll sit out the next UAAP season as each team is allowed a 16-man limit. The final cast of 16 hasn’t been decided but in the spirit of unity, the players are sticking together like a family with the would-be redshirts committed to stay green patiently until their turn comes to join the roster.

The 20 players are PBA D-League Aspirants Cup MVP and UAAP Rookie of the Year Kevin Quiambao, UAAP 3x3 MVP CJ Austria, Evan Nelle, SEA Games gold medalist Michael Phillips, Ben Phillips, Joaqui Manuel, Raven Cortez, Francis Escandor, JC Macalalad, Earl Abadam, Mark Nonoy, Bright Nwankwo, Josh David, Isaiah Phillips, Jonnel Policarpio, Mur Alao, EJ Gollena, Rhyle Melencio, Vhoris Marasigan and Matthew Rubico. Rookies with five years of playing eligibility are Alao, Gollena, Melencio, Marasigan and Rubico. Policarpio is in his first season with four playing years while David is also seeing action in his debut with two playing years. Isaiah Phillips is the middle brother between eldest Ben and youngest Michael and has two playing years. In their final season are Ben Phillips. Nelle, Manuel, Escandor and Nonoy.

The team played five games, losing once. The first contest was an 88-69 defeat to the Rintatsu commercial semi-pro club. Robinson sat out Quiambao, Nelle, Michael, Austria and David to allocate more minutes to other players since Rintatsu was supposed to be the weakest of the Japanese teams in the schedule. As it turned out, Rintatsu wasn’t as weak as advertised and torched the Archers with 14 triples. Rintatsu opened a 29-point lead in the fourth quarter but the Archers went on a 12-0 run and held the Japanese without a field goal in the last five minutes. Nonoy led the charge with 13 points.

Then, the Archers bowled over Toyoda Gosei, 92-71, with Quiambao scoring 19 and Ben Phillips 14, Chukyo University, 89-54, with Quiambao hitting 18 and Cortez 12, Tenri University of Osaka, 77-59, with Quiambao firing 19 and Nagoya Gakuin University, 88-76, with Quiambao netting 18, Austria 16, Nelle 13 and Escandor and Michael Phillips 11 each. Tenri’s lineup included an import from Lithuania, Rapolas Venclovas, and another from Mali, Saco Souleymane, while Nagoya Gakuin had an import from Nigeria, Peter Okoye, and another from Senegal, Amadou Makhtar Niang. The Archers saved their best for last as they gained sweet revenge on Nagoya Gakuin which beat them by one last year. The teams battled to two ties in the first half before La Salle unloaded a 16-0 blast in the third quarter to erect a 20-point lead. Nagoya Mayor Takashi Kawamura, Nagoya Gakuin University chairman Yoshio Inden, Philippine Consul General in Nagoya Roy Ecraela and Archers team manager Terry Capistrano spoke in a brief opening ceremony before the contest that was televised live. Overall, the tour was a rousing success with players from both sides displaying a high level of sportsmanship and competitiveness. Beyond basketball, it was also a bonding, cultural and fun trip. Some players took a train to Tokyo on a free day while others went to the Toyota Museum, braved breathtaking thrill rides at an amusement park and did outlet shopping. And of course, everyone loved the Japanese food.