Letran eyes end to futility vs San Beda
Games Today (Mall of Asia Arena) 2 p.m. – San Beda vs Arellano (Jrs) 4 p.m. – San Beda vs Letran (Srs)
Another chapter is set to unfold in the already storied rivalry between San Beda and Letran when the two squads begin their showdown for the NCAA basketball championship in a best-ofthree series today.
Game time is at 4 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena with the Red Lions seeking their sixth straight title, their ninth in a decade, while the Knights are looking to end a decade of frustration against the squad who have beaten them thrice in that same stretch.
The Red Lions have a slight edge heading into the finals, having won two in three meetings against the Knights.
But other than that, it has been a pretty even year for the two squads as they both finished the tournament with a 13-5 records and both got the job done in one game against their respective foes in the semifinal.
For both coaches, this series is a new ball game.
“It’s different now. The records, the eliminations wala na yun. It’s a different story now,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, who is looking for his first title as a college coach after winning a bundle of titles for Ateneo in the high school ranks.
“Hindi kami kuntento dito,” said Aldin Ayo, a rookie coach from Sorsogon who is slowly making name for himself after leading the Knights to the finals.
The Red Lions will have the usual suspects at their disposal in Ola Adeogun, Baser Amer and Art dela Cruz but Jarin knows that if push comes to shove, he'll have a full 15-man squad at his disposal.
That was in full display in their 7868 win against the JRU Heavy Bombers as Jarin’s bench delivered the goods for the Red Lions in the latter part of the second half.
For Jarin, it’s all about not getting carried away with the romanticism of a San Beda-Letran match.
“Alam naman natin na that’s one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball but we’re not bigger than San Beda or Letran. It’s a time-tested tradition, it’s a culture. It goes even outside the sports competition, there will always be a rivalry,” said Jarin.
“Coach Aldin Ayo has proven his worth that he can lead a team to a championship and I give credit to him and the coaching staff, he’s doing a magnificent job. It’s gonna be very interesting whoever brings in the energy will win the game,” he added.
Ayo on the other hand will be looking at the hunger of his boys, especially the likes of Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal and Rey Nambatac who have endured the pain of losing a championship match against San Beda.
“Siyempre San Beda yun. Hindi kami masaya na nandito lang kami. We want to win it all,” Ayo said.
If his prolific guard in Cruz can keep up his deadly form, the Knights could have that big chance in pulling the upset rug on the favored Lions.
“Ako kahit malakas ang kalaban, lagi kong mindset bilog ang bola. Sabi lang ni coach, we’ll just enjoy then start working for the finals,” said Cruz.
In the first game, the San Beda Red Cubs, armed with a thrice-to-beat advantage for sweeping the elims, try to inch closer toward a seventh straight title when they face the first-time finalist Arellano Braves in the juniors basketball title series at 2 p.m.