San Sebastian College-Recoletos will be without an import in the coming NCAA season, but don’t take the Stags for granted.
That will be a big mistake if other teams will consider the Stags as pushover.
Even SSC coach Egay Macaraya is convinced his team has what it takes to challenge even defending champion San Beda College.
The Stags, for one, have speed and firepower to make up for their lack of ceiling.
“We know we’re a smaller team compared to others who have foreign players,” said Macaraya, now on his second season since he replaced Rodney Santos. “What we did was to outrun our opponents, play tougher defense and being versatile.”
The team, Macaraya said, boasts of a Mutt and Jeff combination of Michael Calisaan and Lorenzo Navarro.
The 6-foot-6 Calisaan is turning to be a versatile player – he can also shoot from afar.
“I told him he can’t make it to the PBA if he keeps on playing what he was playing before. He has to have more weapons, like shooting threes and facilitating. I’m glad he accepted the challenge,” said Macaraya of Calisaan.
Navarro, on the other hand, is on a mission.
A former La Salle player, Navarro has earned glowing words from his coaches for his creative plays during the Fil-Oil preseason tournament.
Despite lacking in size, the 5-foot-8 Navarro possesses a heart as big as a football field and a feathery touch.
Navarro’s addition, others say, has made SSC even more dangerous.
Also expected to deliver the goods for SSC are Alfren Gayosa, Ian Valdez, Allyn Bulanadi and RK Ilagan.
