Newcomers Lentcheu, Haruna to play vital role for St. Benilde

St. Benilde’s Yankee Haruna. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

After losing main man Jonathan Grey, the College of St. Benilde will be relying much on its new players this coming 92nd NCAA basketball season.

Two of them are Clement Lentcheu of Nigeria and Fil-Am Yankee Haruna.

The 6-foot-7 Lentcheu and the high-leaping Haruna will be the forefront of the Blazers’ campaign this year as they seek to improve on their eighth place finish with a 5-13 (win-loss) record a season ago.

“They will play an important role in our campaign this season,” said St. Benilde coach Gabby Velasco
referring to Lentcheu and Haruna.

The arrival of Lentcheu and Haruna has made the Blazers more defensive-minded as their offense hit a snag without the high-scoring Grey, who have already played his fifth and final year a season back.

That is why St. Benilde re-inserted veteran Pons Saavedra into the line up in the last-minute to inject some dose of offense into the team.

Saavedra, a solid defender who has long range, should also provide leadership to a young core that includes JJ Domingo, Edward Dixon, Christian Fajarito, Gerard Castor, Rene Sta. Maria and Carlo Young.

“He will be the leader of this team because of his experience,” said Velasco of Saavedra.