Published December 23, 2022 7:12pm
Updated December 23, 2022 7:12pm
Alfrancis Chua bared that Colegio de San Juan de Letran’s three-peat title win in opposition to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde was the sweetest of the college’s current run of championships.
This is due to the adversity that the Knights needed to overcome to succeed in the highest in NCAA Season 98.
“Oo naman. Nawala sila Abando, si Bataller ‘di nakapaglaro. Ang daming na-injure, ang daming nagka-COVID, pero sabi ko nga kay Bonnie unti-unti lang. By doing that, we’re using our bench players, nakakadevelop tayo,” stated Chua, the SMC sports activities director who additionally serves because the particular assistant to the rector for sports activities growth for Letran.
Before the season, Letran misplaced high-flying star participant Rhenz Abando after he determined to convey his act to the skilled ranks with the Korean Basketball League’s Anyang KGC. Abando, the NCAA Season 97 rookie of the yr and MVP, led the crew throughout the Knights’ championship run. Meanwhile, Ira Battaller, who transferred to Letran alongside Abando and Brent Paraiso, was unable to make the Knights’ lineup this season.
Several gamers then contracted COVID-19 on the opening recreation day of Season 98, which compelled the league to reschedule the Knights’ conflict with host Emilio Aguinaldo College.
But regardless of the early struggles for the Muralla crew, Letran was in a position to go all the best way after overcoming Benilde of their best-of-three title showdown final Sunday, giving the college its first style of a three-peat feat since 1984.
“Tignan mo ‘yung mga naglaro kanina, puro rookie, pero nagkaroon na ng kumpyansa kasi nakapaglaro na sila dati. Good experience for us and nadala namin hanggang championship,” Chua added.
Aside from the bumps within the highway within the early season, Letran had loads of different challenges, together with a number of suspensions to key gamers.
Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso have been slapped with two-game suspensions within the first spherical, resulting in elimination spherical losses in opposition to San Beda and Lyceum.
In the finals, Letran was additionally challenged after three gamers have been suspended whereas two have been reprimanded.
Kobe Monje was suspended for Game Two after accumulating a disqualifying foul in Game 1 whereas Kyle Tolentino additionally missed Game 2 after the league discovered him occupying the touchdown spot of Benilde’s Migs Oczon throughout the finals opener.
Team captain and NCAA Season 95 Finals MVP Fran Yu, who performed one of many largest roles in head coach Bonnie Tan’s system, was additionally compelled to take a seat out the title-clinching Game 3 after he was slapped with a suspension as a consequence of a DQ foul he acquired in Game 2.
Paraiso and Paolo Javillonar, in the meantime, got stern warnings as a consequence of separate incidents.
“Ito ‘yung pinakamaraming intriga, ang daming na-suspend sa amin, but that’s part of the challenge, that’s part of growing,” Chua added.
“I’m just so proud of the team. If you plan well, the coaching staff plans well and ready tayo sa Game Three, sabi ko kay Bonnie ‘di tayo tatalunin.”
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
