By NIKOLE JAVIER
Five La Salle teams were honored for their achievements that started the winning tradition of the school during the Animo Champions Ring Ceremony on Monday, Nov. 27.
The past champions of the school are hoping to inspire the current and finals-bound La Salle team as it tackles University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons on Wednesday, Nov. 29, in their best-of-three championship series in the UAAP Season 86.
The 1998 squad is celebrating its Silver Anniversary since winning La Salle’s first-ever championship trophy under then rookie coach Franz Pumaren.
And it wouldn’t stop there as Pumaren led the team to a remarkable four-peat title run that ended in 2001.
Coaching two-time season and finals MVP Don Allado, the last local recipient of the individual honor from La Salle in 1998 and 1999, team captain and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora and four-time UAAP Mythical Five member Renren Ritualo, Pumaren relieved the school’s former glory and hope for the current roster the same success in its tough climb back to the championship title.
“The 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 started the winning tradition here in La Salle and they were responsible for redefining the term angas,” Pumaren said.
“To our 2023 team, good luck. I don’t know if this is the right timing to show you what we have accomplished, baka ma-pressure kayo. I hope you don’t get pressured. To our big guys, I know you are in great shape. I think you got all the tools, the preparation and everything, and hopefully the trend will start the ball kicking and be successful in this edition of the UAAP,” he furthered.
Zamora, for his part, who captained the team to its back-to-back title success in 1998 and 1999, took the initiative to make the ring ceremony happen after a 25-year wait along with an organizing committee composed of former teammates Allado, Ritualo, Mon Jose and Dominic Uy.
“Dalawa ‘yong objectives actually, number one is to give recognition to the players who sacrificed and persevered to give honor to the school by winning of championships,” Zamora said.
“And the second, which I think is very, very important, we hope that through this ring ceremony, we can inspire the current basketball team to push themselves very hard to win the championship. Gusto naming maging aspirational sa kanila to,” he added.
