Letran swingman Kevin Racal gave San Beda fits in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 91 Finals. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Letran helplessly watched arch rival San Beda celebrate one title after another in eight of the last nine seasons. On Tuesday, the Knights have a golden opportunity to turn the tables.
Pumped up and motivated, the Knights shoot for a 17th crown when they clash with the five-time defending champion Red Lions in Game 2 of NCAA Season 91 championship series at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Knights answered every Lions shot with a bigger shot of their own for a 94-90 victory in Game 1 last Friday, and Letran’s rookie coach Aldin Ayo expects another dogfight as the two squads cross paths for the fifth time this season.
But unlike in their previous two meetings in the Finals, where the Lions took the crown after winning Game 1, the Knights grabbed the headstart in this series, showing poise under pressure in the clutch to stun the top seeded Lions.
The Intramuros dribblers know they would have to surpass their performance in Game 1 to put away the Lions and end a 10-year title drought.
“We’re confident, but we’re not complacent,” coach Aldin Ayo told the Inquirer after the Knights’ practice at MoA Arena Monday. “They (players) know what to expect and what’s at stake.”
While the Knights took a couple of days off to rest and recover, the Lions immediately buckled down to work Saturday and ran through minor adjustments to their game in practice Monday.
The Lions may have found themselves in an unfamiliar situation—they need to win to keep their title retention bid alive—but Jarin believes their predicament will be enough motivation for his players to pull through.
“We’re in a situation where we need to win this game,” said Jarin. “They (Knights) are riding high, but you need two games to win the championship and we still have a chance. We just have to take the game away from them and take care of the ball.”
Jarin expects the veterans like Baser Amer and Art dela Cruz to step up in what could be their final game in a San Beda uniform. The pro-bound duo combined for 16 points in Game 1 with Dela Cruz groping for form offensively, scoring just seven after averaging close to 20 points in the elimination round.
“Their leadership should show the way (today),” said Jarin who is also counting on Ola Adeogun to make an even bigger impact after posting 23 points and 16 rebounds in Game 1.
Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz led the way with 28 and 17 points, respectively in Game 1, but the Knights also got an unlikely offensive lift from McJour Luib, who fired a season-best 16 points, including 11 in the first half.
But Cruz said it will be their work on the defensive end that will dictate how far they’ll go in the series.
“Right from the start, our defense has been the barometer of our play,” said Cruz who accounted for three of the Knights’ 15 steals in Game 1.
“We get our offense going because of our defense.”