How a vampire drawing helped La Salle’s Joaquin Tovera vanquish rival Ateneo

HOTSHOTS. La Salle standouts JC Macalalag (left) and Joaquin Tovera celebrate a play against rival Ateneo in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.

UAAP

‘We hope that Joaquin stays to be that young guy who just enjoys basketball and doesn't care what the ramifications are of what he does,’ says La Salle coach Topex Robinson of Tovera, the standout rookie who delivered another heroic performance for the defending UAAP champions

AT A GLANCE

• The Ateneo-La Salle rivalry in UAAP sports is characterized by heightened tension and pressure, prompting players and coaches to prepare more intensely.
• Joaquin Tovera, a rookie player, showcased his skills by leading the La Salle team to a crucial overtime victory against Ateneo, scoring 21 points and demonstrating composure under pressure.
• Tovera's teammates and coach praised his contributions and maturity, highlighting his ability to perform well despite the challenges faced by the team after the injury of a key player.

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MANILA, Philippines – For any Ateneo-La Salle rivalry in any UAAP sport, the tension and pressure are always more palpable than other games, no matter the current stakes.

Players and coaches alike sometimes prepare a bit more, spend more time mentally psyching themselves up, or simply do things they don’t normally do.

Joaquin Tovera idly draws on the coach’s whiteboard with a marker.

Ahead of one of the most crucial showdowns in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament, the Blue Eagles and Green Archers found themselves locked with identical records squarely in the middle of the pack heading to Saturday, October 31.

The way the needle moves in this particular match could dictate how the rest of the season would go for either side.

Tovera, meanwhile, continued to draw, mimicking the vampire the La Salle team had set up in time for a chilling Halloween encounter.

Hours after drawing perhaps a pair of fangs or a cape, the 19-year-old dynamo was on the Araneta Coliseum court among thousands, this time drawing up winning plays for others or himself — his own fangs bared against Ateneo’s own scrappy band of brothers.

He traded the vampire’s cape for a hero’s one, as he eventually led the defending champions to an exhilarating 76-73 overtime win to the tune of 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, and spent all the power he had before being helped off the floor after multiple bad ankle rolls.

Tovera did not care too much for roaring, clashing seas of blue and green around him, for the game was like his drawing on the board before the game: simply black and white. Win, or lose.

In his own lane, own zone

Head coach Topex Robinson, who saw Tovera scribbling before the rivalry match and joked if the soft-spoken guard was planning to take over his job, emphasized this defining moment as to why his rookie is just on a different lane as the rest.

“I was like, ‘Do you know how important this game is again?’ [He said] ‘Yes coach, but I love to draw,’” Robinson recounted post-game. “We hope that Joaquin stays to be that young guy who just enjoys basketball and doesn’t care what the ramifications are of what he does.”

“We’re just so fortunate that he has a good support system with these guys. Every time he makes a mistake, you’ll always see one of them trying to pacify him. We’re so fortunate to have these guys guiding in his rookie year. Hopefully, he gets to appreciate the support that he gets.”

Never mind the pressure of righting a title defense gone sideways early. Never mind the pressure of needing to step up right as your mentor and leader goes down.

In the two games since graduating star Jacob Cortez went down with an injury, the Fil-Am youngster from NBA player breeding ground Chino Hills in California has averaged MVP-caliber numbers of 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 7.5 assists on 44% shooting.

Though potential has always been there the moment Tovera stepped into the UAAP, this is the first stretch of games where his grace under pressure has been truly tested, especially after the Archers went down with an alarming 3-4 record to end the first round before rebounding to 6-4.

Ever a kid of few words, Tovera simply said he wanted to do what’s best for the team, and essentially hold the fort while Cortez recovers for the final stretch of his collegiate career.

His La Salle kuyas, however, have much more to say about his character, extending well beyond his years.

“He’s been huge for us these past three games. He’s had really good contributions,” said veteran guard JC Macalalag. “I just tried to remind him of what he can do. Being able to facilitate the team and control the tempo at a young age leaves a lot of room for improvement.”

“For me, it’s just his composure that really stands out the most, with how he’s able to stay poised under pressure,” added former Ateneo prospect Mason Amos.

“Time and time again, he tends to deliver for us, and as a kuya, I’m really proud of his efforts, and proud of him not getting emotional when things get rough for him. He just keeps moving forward and that’s something that I can really say about Joaquin.” – Rappler.com