Meet Joaquin Tovera, the La Salle rookie who looks like UAAP’s next big thing

ROOKIE. Joaquin Tovera in action for the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament.

UAAP

Rookie guard Joaquin Tovera shines in his debut for defending champion La Salle, wasting no time making his mark with his scoring prowess

AT A GLANCE

• Joaquin Tovera made an impressive debut for La Salle in the UAAP, scoring 22 points and contributing significantly to the team's victory over NU Bulldogs.
• Tovera, a product of Chino Hills High School, has a strong basketball background, including international experience with the Gilas Pilipinas Youth program, where he excelled as a scorer.
• Despite initially committing to UP, Tovera transferred to La Salle, where he is expected to develop into a key player alongside the team's veteran core, with the coaching staff noting his coachability and adaptability.

This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors.

MANILA, Philippines – Joaquin Tovera did not take long to make his presence felt in the UAAP.

In his first game for defending champion La Salle, the 18-year-old guard looked right at home, exploding for 22 points to go with 3 steals in just 14 minutes as the Green Archers escaped the NU Bulldogs, 89-87, in their UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament opener on Sunday, September 13.

For much of the game, Tovera looked like the best player on the floor, repeatedly blowing past NU guards Reinhard Jumamoy and Tebol Garcia, both of whom tried to get under his skin.

“At first I was nervous, but when I stepped on the court, I just wanted to show what I got,” said Tovera.

“I think he was a bit nervous, but he got his bearings. It’s his first time playing in front of a crowd like this,” La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said. “I guess he just soaked up the experience. It’s going to get a lot tougher from here on, but he knows that.”

Tovera’s debut was impressive on its own, but his resume suggests there is much more to come.

Chino Hills product

The Filipino-American guard attended Chino Hills High School in California, the same basketball program that produced NBA stars Lonzo and LaMelo Ball.

Tovera made a name for himself with his explosive scoring, including a 47-point outburst against Etiwanda High School in a Baseline League game.

He also played for Fil-Am Nation Select on the competitive youth and travel circuits alongside fellow Filipino-American players based in the United States.

Representing Fil-Am Nation in this year’s NBTC tournament, Tovera averaged 27.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game.

Gilas Youth star

Tovera also represented the Philippines internationally, emerging as a major force in the Gilas Pilipinas Youth program.

He won tournament MVP honors in the FIBA U18 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers after averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game.

According to Robinson, it is what Tovera is expected to do with La Salle in the UAAP. 

The La Salle coach has been particularly impressed by how quick the teenager has embraced the challenge of learning the team’s championship-proven system.

“I guess what really kind of stood out is the way he’s really been coachable,” Robinson said. “He was asking questions, especially with the veterans and other coaches. I guess we could see that he’s really making his way to adapt to our system. We don’t have to force him to do that, but he was the one asking those questions. That’s really huge for us.”

Tovera’s ability to contribute, even as a rookie, has also given La Salle another dynamic piece alongside its veteran core.

“Him scoring that much and contributing a lot on both ends helped us a lot. Having a young guy [playing well] together with our veterans is really going to be a big help for us moving forward,” Robinson added.

Brief UP stint

Before enrolling at La Salle, Tovera initially committed to play for the UP Fighting Maroons.

He even saw action for UP in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup in June, serving as a backup to Rey Remogat.

Tovera averaged 5.0 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during his brief stint with the Fighting Maroons. On his 18th birthday, however, he de-committed from UP and made the surprising move to La Salle, which caught many in the league by surprise.

Tovera was once viewed as the heir apparent to Remogat, who will leave UP at the end of Season 89. Instead, he landed at La Salle, where he is now being groomed as a potential successor to Jacob Cortez and the future leader of a program that has won two of the last three UAAP championships.

Robinson knows Tovera is still developing, though, and the La Salle coach is giving the teenager room to learn, make mistakes, and understand the game at the collegiate level.

“He’s young. He’s only 18. He’s going to make those young mistakes,” Robinson said. “What we just try to remind him is that everybody is allowed to make a mistake. You’ll get the support that you need. Hopefully, it’s going to lighten the process and the load on his shoulders.” – Rappler.com