De La Salle University is set to fly on September 10 for Japan preseason wind up. 

They are expecting a minimum of six games there. DLSU had many games on their plate in preparation for the UAAP Season 85. 

The Green Archers played the most number of games among all collegiate squads with 22 games in just two tournaments. The Filoil Eco Oil 15^th Preseason Cup and the 2022 PBA D-League Aspirants Cup, that was a successful campaign for the Eco Oil-backed team as it topped the Aspirants’ Cup.

Coach Derrick Pumaren said that their objective to join the tournaments is for the team to be better, and they aim to be a championship-caliber team. DLSU recently routed Mairnerong Pilipino with 91-78 in the deciding game, Game Three in the D-League last August 30. 

Finishing games has been a challenge for La Salle since the UAAP Season 84 tournament.

Previously, University of the Philippines booted out La Salle in a do-or-die game with 78-74. Green Archers cough up a large lead late in the game.

During the semi-finals clash in the Preseason Cup against FEU, La Salle lost the overtime with 71-67.

Closing out games is one that Coach Pumaren admittedly shared that it’s part of the program that they wanted to work on. He then believes that it would toughen the team. 

Although, the team is still a work in progress according to Pumaren. 

“I had to be on top of them. If I had to get mad, I had to get mad. Sometimes, there are times they slacked off in practice, and I had to show them, hey, it is not over. They know that,” he explained.

“I want them to stay sharp and I think we did. We had pretty good practices the last couple of days and that’s why we were ready.”

Therefore, the team is heading to Japan for their build-up campaign for the upcoming UAAP season as they face top-notch universities there.