UAAP: La Salle’s CJ Austria hopes to get rhythm back in Finals vs UP

La Salle Green Archers’ CJ Austria during a UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball Final Four game. –UAAP PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament hasn’t been the kindest for La Salle guard CJ Austria.

Once the Green Archers’ old reliable shooter during their Season 86 championship run, Austria found himself in injuries and shooting slumps in La Salle’s back-to-back title bid in the current season.

No game personified Austria’s season than the squad’s Finals-clinching victory over Adamson, 70-55, in the Final Four at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

LIVE: UAAP Season 87 basketball Final Four November 30

“All my shots earlier, I practiced all of those. All my teammates were telling me, ‘shoot that, we got you, that’ll go in,’ but the shots didn’t go in,” said Austria in an interview with Inquirer Sports.

“Still, I applaud my teammates because they cheered me on and said it was okay. They kept telling me to shoot so I had such a boost of confidence even if I was missing [my shots] because my teammates were there.”

In 16 minutes of action, Austria struggled hard and finished with just two points and two assists. the three-point sniper also sank just one of his 11 tries from the field.

READ: UAAP Finals: La Salle’s CJ Austria brushes off crowd’s boos

Still, pessimism isn’t in Austria’s vocabulary despite the subpar season he’s been having.

With a rematch coming up against University of the Philippines in the best-of-three Finals, Austria is hoping to regain his form that once helped La Salle clinch a historic title.

“Hopefully,” said Austria when asked if his old form would come back in time for the UAAP Finals.

“Nobody wants to see themselves miss a lot so hopefully in the Finals, my confidence and my form come back so I can help. As a veteran, I want to help my team and contribute.”

Game 1 of the UAAP Finals between La Salle and UP rolls on Sunday, still at the Big Dome in Cubao.