By WAYLON GALVEZ
Against a team that went 18-0 in the eliminations, Letran forward Jerrick Balanza knows that the Knights have to bring their A-game against the San Beda Red Lions in Game 1 of the Finals in the NCAA Season 95 today at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
The third seed Letran entered the best-of-three finals series after surviving the stepladder playoffs with wins against No. 4 San Sebastian College-Recoletos (85-80) and No. 2 Lyceum of the Philippines University (92-88) last week.
Against the top seed and defending champion San Beda, Balanza said it’s going to be tougher.
“Alam naman natin na 18-0 sila, they’re the defending champion. Sila paborito, underdog naman kami. Galing sila sa mahabang pahinga, so they’re coming in fresh sa series,” said Balanza, who is in his final year with Letran.
San Beda survived Letran’s comeback to score a 70-66 win in the first round last Aug. 10, then came through with a convincing 75-63 victory in the second round last October 1.
Despite that, Letran’s ‘do-it-all’ guard Fran Yu, who is averaging 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in the playoffs, is confident that the two wins they had in the stepladder have made them stronger as a team.
“Sa tingin naman namin may mga na-gain kami sa unang dalawang laro. Maganda iyung mga panalo namin, which I think toughened us not just individually but more importantly as a team,” said Yu.
“Hopefully madala namin yun sa series, lalo sa Game 1. May momentum galing sa mga panalo pero alam naman natin na well-prepared sila, handang handa sila for the finals series.”
Letran coach Bonnie Tan said it’s all about playing together, similar to the effort they gave in beating Lyceum, which – like San Beda with Donald Tankoua – also had Cameroonian import Mike Nzeusseu.
The last time San Beda played was Oct. 17 when it downed Lyceum 85-62 in the penultimate day of elimination.
Since then, the Red Lions mixed their 24-day break from action with practice sessions, rest days and tune up matches, including one with UAAP reigning titlist Ateneo and against the Pasig Sta. Lucia Realtors of the MPBL.
“We’re ready to play in the Finals series. Our coaches really prepared us with exhibition games,” said San Beda forward Calvin Oftana, who will be formally named NCAA Most Valuable Player on Friday after he emerged on top in Statistical Points department.
The only concern Red Lions coach Boyet Fernandez is the rust factor from not playing actual basketball for nearly a month.
“Of course it’s going to be a factor. An actual game is totally different from just playing in tune up games, or just practicing for the finals. We’ll see that in the first few minutes of the game,” said Fernandez.
“We’ll make the necessary adjustment if we struggle in the first quarter. But the players are ready to play, we’re ready to play Letran, and we know it’s going to be a tough series.”
“We understand that because of our record we’re the favorites, and they are the underdogs. But if you look at our games, they really have what it takes to beat us so we have to play hard,” he added.
Expect an interesting match up at the frontline as Letran’s trio of ‘big men’ in Christian Balagasay, Jeo Ambohot and Larry Muyang will try to limit the production of the 6-foot-7 Tankoua.
At the guard spot, Balanza, Yu and Bonbon Batiller will be up against San Beda’s Evan Nelle and Filipino-Canadian James Canlas-Kwekuteye, while Oftana will have to deal against Letran’s top defender Ato Ular.