Knights go for jugular today
WLetran’s decadelong odyssey to an NCAA basketball crown end today? For Letran’s die-hard fans, the valiant efforts the Knights put up since beating San Beda College in the first round elims would just go down the drain if they can’t withstand the expected pressure and allow another opportunity slip away from their hands.
To stave-off Letran’s coronation, the Red Lions need to re-produce the smarts and sharpness that made them the most successful squad the past 10 years when they clash in Game 2 of their best-of-three title series at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
If the Lions succeed today and win their do-or-die on Thursday, they will become the first team in the country’s oldest collegiate league to win the championship six in a row.
Put those factors into play and a highly emotional clash between the two proud institutions is most likely when they clash at 4 p.m.
After a thrilling 94-90 victory in Game 1 last Friday, Letran rookie coach Aldin Ayo knows that ending a series against the Red Lions is like scaling a perilous mountain like Mt. Everest.
Not only that, with the support of Letran community and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, Ayo said his boys will go to the war fully armed and motivated.
“You can expect the same effort,
ill the same energy (from us). We’re going to finish that off. We’re going to finish that,” said Ayo who added the presence of Pacquiao in Game 1 gave his boys extra zest.
“Of course San Beda’s going to make a lot of adjustments heading into this game because they lost the first game. Yun din ang ginawa namin nung natalo kami sa kanila, nag-adjust din kami. But we’re going to do our assignments, we’re going to really prepare for Game 2,” he added.
Ayo is so determined to win the title for Letran this time and he is not denying it.
Admitting that he felt hurt after seeing his Alma Mater fall at the hands of San Beda twice in the past three years, Ayo believes that now’s the time to put those years of heartbreaks behind them.
“Si Mark (Cruz), si K-Racs, McJour (Luib) and yung mga beterano, they have suffered enough. Nung nasa Sorsogon pa ako, pinapanood ko sila nung natalo sila sa series, lahat ng Letranista, we were heartbroken. We don’t want to feel that again. We’re going to do our very best come Game 2.”
For the Red Lions, their adjustment will fall down to two simple things – for the players to lessen their turnovers and for their coach, Jamike Jarin to prepare them better.
“We need to take care of the ball and I need to coach better,” Jarin said.
Jarin also hopes to see his two big guns in Art dela Cruz and Baser Amer bounce back as they fell victim to Letran’s air-tight defense.
If the two return to form and Ola Adeogun continues his brilliant play – that could be just enough for the Red Lions to force a rubber match.
“The good thing about is we still have Game 2. You have to win two games to win the championship. They won the first game and I congratulate them for winning fair and square. But it’s not yet done,” a confident Jarin added.