THEY have waited for 10 long years, but the Letran Knights, inspired by their 94-90 victory over the San Beda Red Lions in Game 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball finals, will enter the Mall of Asia Arena hard-court with no less than a victory in mind that would end the school’s title drought.
The Knights will be men on a mission when they play at 4 p.m. against their arch-rivals, who are as determined to avenge the loss and continue their quest for an unprecedented sixth straight men’s basketball championship.
In Game 1, the Knights clearly outplayed the Red Lions in the endgame after three quarters of back and forth action of never giving an inch against the taller and the more experienced San Beda side.
Perhaps coming as an added motivation and inspiration was the presence of boxing idol Manny Pacquiao on Letran’s bench. The boxing champion reportedly joined the team at the dugout before the game, and later treated the entire team to a sumptuous dinner after the victory.
“Pangalan pa lang, motivation na sa mga bata. When he entered the dugout, sa mukha ng bata, nakita ko, elated sila. Lagi kasi nauudlot ang pagpunta niya. So, they were motivated by his presence. Nandu’n kasi ang suporta niya,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo.
Still, it was the Knights’ consistency from the long-court and their tough defense that turned the team’s fortunes in the game. Letran refused to be cowed by San Beda’s three-point upmanship, making 12 of 29 three-pointers, while the Knights buried 11 out of 24 tries from the same area.
But it was in the endgame where the Knights had the better of the Lions, as Kevin Racal scored a crucial drive and Rey Nambatac drove to the basket to seal Letran’s win.
Aside from Racal, three other Knights scored in double digits –Nambatac had 18 points, Mark Cruz added 17 and McJour Luib chipped in 16.
San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, meanwhile, took the blame for the loss, although he remains upbeat going into Game 2.
“I coached badly. So it’s my fault,” said Jarin. “But the good thing about it is we have Game 2. We’re going to have another game on Tuesday.”
Jarin added that it was actually their turnovers which contributed to the loss in Game 1.
“We need to take care of the ball and I need to coach better,” said Jarin.
Games Today
(Game 2, MOA Arena)
2 p.m. San Beda vs Arelano (jrs)
4 p.m. San Beda vs Letran (srs