De La Salle University couldn’t hide its excitement over the roster the team will parade on Season 88 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.

Head coach Topex Robinson said the team was planned and built two years ago, knowing they couldn’t rely on UAAP Most Valuable Player (MVP) Kevin Quiambao for long.

“Well, I think this one might be younger as a group, but the personnel that we have have a lot of experience,” Robinson said.

“I think this is what really was fortunate for us. We were able to prepare post-KQ (Quiambao). Because KQ, even after we won a championship, the plan for him moving forward in his basketball career has been set already.”

“So, the two years that we knew he was going to be gone. There will never be another KQ, but what we prepared for was to have somebody who’s going to help out in us pursuing another championship.”

The crew of Mason Amos, Jacob Cortez, Kean Baclaan, LeBron Daep and Luis Pablo are being touted as one of the favorites to clinch the UAAP Season 88 crown.

Adding to the Green Archers’ firepower are veterans Mike Philips, Doi Dungo, Vhoris Marasigan, and Henry Agunnane.

Despite losing to UAAP Season 87 champions University of the Philippines, 78-83, in the semifinal of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, the Green Archers still made heads turn with the group making a deep run in the tournament.

La Salle is also set to participate in the World University Basketball Series from 9 to 11 August at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium in Tokyo.

Robinson said getting some experience from local tournaments has done wonders for the squad as they brace for another tough UAAP campaign.

“Well, I think it’s just going through the whole process of the tournaments. At the end of the day, our main goal is the UAAP season but along the way, we’ve experienced a lot together,” Robinson said.