By NIKOLE JAVIER
Letran looks to start a winning streak when it faces Mapua in a rematch of last season’s finalists in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at the FillOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The lone game is set at 3 p.m. with the Knights looking ready and confident to start a winning run that will add fuel in their bid for a three-peat.
The Knights won the title last year via a mighty 12-0 sweep that included a 2-0 win over the Cardinals in their best-of-three title series dubbed as Battle of Intramuros.
And the Cardinals?
Well, the Cardinals are aching to get back on the winning column after dropping their last two games for a 1-3 mark.
The league, meantime, scrapped the match between San Sebastian and host Emilio Aguinaldo College after six players of the former were tested positive for Covid.
One thing going for Letran is that the team is coming off an 81-75 win over erstwhile undefeated College of St. Benilde on Sept. 23.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan, however, refused to be swayed, saying they can’t afford to relax expecilly against a team as hungry as the Cardinals.
Besides, the Knights, according to Tan, still need to improve some facets of their game like closing out a tight contest.
“Speaking of Mapua, of course, we’ll expect a tough game again. Almost lahat nga talagang crucial games dito lalo start. Sabi ko nga sa mga players magiging trending ‘yong mga panalo at talo natin (with) each team. So sana papunta tayo sa win column hindi sa losing column sa standing natin. Mapua, ‘yon nga, matibay and alam natin experienced team, so sana maka-execute kami ng good game plan against Mapua,” said Tan.
Veterans Brent Paraiso and Fran Yu collaborated inside the court for Letran to hand St. Benilde its first loss of the season, posting 25 points and 12 points, respectively.
Louie Sangalang had his fair share of contributions on the defensive end after putting up a huge denial on Will Gozum’s attempt to recover with 25 seconds to go.
The Knights are fully aware of Mapua’s situation, so they expect another dogfight.
“Galing ‘yong Mapua sa talo eh, gutom din sila manalo. Saka umabot din sila sa finals so iba rin ‘yong mga players nila. Composed din ‘yong mga players nila, veterans parang kami,” added Paraiso.
Expected to lead Mapua are Jopet Soriano, Arvin Gamboa, and Paolo Hernandez.
