MANILA, Philippines — While the San Beda Red Lions had all the help they could get from its bench, Letran was left searching for theirs.
The Red Lions, who are now just a game away from their fourth consecutive championship after an 80-68 win in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 89 Finals, generated almost half of its total output from its second group that proved vital Monday.
“I told my second stringers to not rely too much on our first stringers,” said Letran head coach Caloy Garcia after his team’s loss.
But that wasn’t the case as the Knights struggled to find other source of offense other than their usual hitters in Raymond Almazan, Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal.
The five-foot-five point guard Cruz played big amid the defense San Beda played on him but Garcia knows it would need more production from his other players to beat the Red Lions.
“Mark is a talented player but I think we only need the people who can support him,” said Garcia.
Cruz finished with the game-high 22 points and had seven rebounds and seven assists. Almazan, the PBA-bound center, added 16 points, 14 of his which came in the third quarter but just two in the final frame while Racal had 12.
Letran’s reserves scored just eight points with Ford Ruaya and John Tambeling tallying four each while San Beda drew 37 points from its bench.
“Today, Ola had all the support,” Garcia pointed out. Ola Adeogun had 16 points and 11 rebounds. “It’s a team game and not just about one player. I believe in my players.”
Backup guard John Ludovice registered 11 points, Anthony Semerad had nine points while David Semerad and Francis Abarcar had six apiece. Kyle Pascual was able to contribute as well in his own little way as he chipped in with five points.
Apart from Letran’s lack of bench support, Garcia also rued his team’s lack of toughness at the defensive end.
There was also one instance in the fourth period where the Knights allowed Adeogun to go coast-to-coast for the easy layup.
“I think we have to be really physical especially against Ola. Ola has been sealing the whole time trying to get some fouls.”
Despite dropping Game 1, Garcia still believes his team won’t just bend and break.
“We collapsed in the fourth quarter but we still believe that we can still come back in Game 2. Definitely, we’ll come out stronger.”
Game 2 is on Thursday and the deciding match — if necessary — will be on Saturday also at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“I think we played a bit soft in the fourth. It’s just lessons to be learned but deep inside we think we’re still going to win the championship.”
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