Consider the Mapua Red Robins this early as the favorites to win a back-to-back title the next NCAA season.
Moments after downing the Cubs, 84-67, in Friday’s title-clinching Game Three win at the MOA Arena in Pasay City, Mapua coach Randy Alcantara said they are in a strong position to win a second straight title next season with core of their champion team this year are returning.
“We’re only losing three players this year so we’ll have a good chance of repeating next year,” said Alcantara referring to Sherwin Concepcion, Jasper Salenga and Bryan Semudio, who played their final season.
The Robins have actually adjusted to the loss of Concepcion, who went down with a season-ending shoulder injury late in the second round of elimination, while it would need some time to fill the void left by Salenga and Samudio, the finals MVP.