San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin bellows instructions to his players on the bench. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
To some, the six-peat seeking San Beda owns the advantage in its showdown against Letran in the NCAA Season 91 Finals, but coach Jamike Jarin sees just an even game between the rivals.
The Red Lions and the Knights have set a dream finals series anew with game one of the best-of-three finals set on Friday.
READ: San Beda drops JRU, faces rival Letran in NCAA finals
“Coming to the championship, it’s anybody’s game. It will be very interesting. Whoever brings in the energy will have a good chance,” he said.
Jarin noted that his San Beda crew has been on the heels of Letran ever since the start of the season, from the battle for the top seed at the end of the eliminations up to this point of the tournament.
“We’ve been chasing them for the entire season,” he said. “It’s going to be very interesting. Coach Aldin Ayo has proven his worth that he can lead a team to a championship and I give credit to him and to his coaching staff for their magnificent job.”
READ: ‘Small ball’ works as Letran aims to end 10-year title drought
The battle between the two rivals will be their third Finals meeting in four years, with the past two going to San Beda’s favor.
Letran, the biggest thorn in the Red Lions’ side, is eyeing to end its 10-year title drought.
Jarin doesn’t believe that San Beda has the edges entering finals because of championship experience.
READ: Letran, San Beda lead tight NCAA Final Four race
“They would say they’ll be the underdogs, but we’re also the underdogs,” he said.
“It’s the championship. Anybody going to the championship will say it’s a long season. But the experience is there already. Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal, Rey Nambatac, they’ve all been there already.”
But if there’s one thing Jarin agrees with the rest of the field, it’s that this championship matchup will definitely go down the wire.
“It’s gonna be a tough series,” he said.