La Salle big man Samuel reintroduces self on UAAP stage vs Ateneo

It would be understandable had someone forgot that De La Salle has a player named Taane Samuel in its lineup for the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.

The 6-foot-9 Kiwi played just five minutes in the Green Archers’ season-opener against Far Eastern University, a game La Salle lost 68-61, then, sat out the rest of the tournament due to Jones fracture in his left foot.

It was around two months of inactivity for the big man before he got to the basketball floor once more and he couldn’t have timed his return better.

Samuel got back to the Green Archers’ rotation on Sunday at Smart Araneta Coliseum against archrival Ateneo.

Although La Salle lost 71-62, it was enough exposure for Samuel to show to the league what he can do.

“It was tough, it was definitely tough especially since it’s an Ateneo-La Salle game,” said Samuel. “I’m just doing what I can there, just trying to stay as calm as possible and do what I can to just get us into the Final Four.”

The Green Archers, with the loss, dropped to an 8-5 card in the third seed of the standings and are in danger of even getting booted out of the Final Four race.

An 8-6 triple tie between La Salle, FEU, and University of the Philippines will send the Green Archers to a fourth place playoff with the Tamaraws with the Fighting Maroons claiming the third seed because of a better quotient.

Nevertheless, whomever the Green Archers face next will have to run into the physicality of Samuel who played rugby before transitioning to basketball at La Salle.

There were moments when Samuel got into the face of Ateneo big men Angelo Kouame and Isaac Go but the La Sallian center said it was all left on the court.

“I’m kind of used to the physicality since I came from a rugby background before playing basketball,” said Samuel, who had eight points and three rebounds in 17 minutes of play. “If someone pushes, I’ll push back. It’s nothing new to me, I’ll just keep matching and trying to play like how they play.”

“It’s just banter, it’s just in the game, and whatever happens stays on the court. I have a lot of respect for every player in every team. They’re just doing what they can do to win, just like what we’re doing.”