By Florenda Corpuz
TOKYO – The De La Salle University Green Archers returned home from the 2025 World University Basketball Series (WUBS) with lessons to carry, even as Korea University claimed the championship with a 95-85 victory in the finals.
Last year, the Green Archers defeated Korea University to capture the WUBS championship title, with Kevin Quiambao, in his final year with the team, earning tournament MVP honors. This year, Quiambao joined Gilas Pilipinas for the national team’s campaign at the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, leaving new and returning players to shoulder the team’s ambitions.
Coach Topex Robinson said the experience, despite the loss, will strengthen the team.
“This challenging situation is just going to make us a better team. We’re going to learn our lessons,” Robinson told Filipino-Japanese Journal during a post-game interview on Aug. 11. “We’re so happy that we had the chance to play with the champions, Korea University, because we learned a lot from them.”
Robinson acknowledged Korea University’s dominance in the final. “They really went there knowing that they still have the memory of the past… They made the adjustments just to counter us. They were hitting the ball from the outside, sharing the basketball, attacking the basket. They were just so fluid.”
The Green Archers also faced the challenge of not having Quiambao. “No guy could fill that shoe,” Robinson said. “It has to be everybody. That’s why we’re really excited to have Mason Amos, Kean Baclaan, Jacob Cortez, even Luis Pablo. We’re happy and excited to have them on our team, and we’re just going to get better.”
Despite the loss, Robinson said the team’s focus now shifts to University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88. “We’re bringing this experience from Japan with us. It’s not just about the basketball games we played here, but the times we spent together as a team.”
For the players, the loss was painful but motivating. Mike Phillips reflected on the team’s unity and resilience. “Even though they [Korea University] had a big lead at halftime, we didn’t give up. We were all like, ‘Let’s go, we’re all in this together,’” he told Filipino-Japanese Journal.
Processing the defeat, Phillips added, “It really hurts because we wanted to win back-to-back championships. But it also adds to our motivation because we don’t want to feel this way again.”
The 17-man DLSU squad also included Bright Nwankwo, Earl Abadam, EJ Gollena, JC Macalalag, Lebron Daep, Mikey Cortez, Denzel Dagdag, Doy Dungo, Vhoris Marasigan, Rhyle Melencio, Guillan Quines, and Dominic Sarmiento.
Prior to the finals, the Green Archers defeated Chinese Taipei 89-84 in the WUBS opener and the Japan University Select Team (JUBF) 88-75 in the semifinals.
Filipino fans in Japan left a lasting impression on the team. “Even though we’re far from the Philippines, the Filipino community here is still behind us. It’s very touching,” Phillips said.
Robinson emphasized that representing the Philippines remains a key motivation. “The only way we could return here is to win the championship in the UAAP. That’s our goal, and hopefully we’ll have a chance to represent the Philippines again at WUBS.”
Meanwhile, UAAP Season 87 champions UP Fighting Maroons struggled in their WUBS debut, finishing with a 0-2 record.
(Photos by Din Eugenio)
