NCAA Season 92 Preview: Letran makes uphill climb for title repeat

Letran head coach Jeff Napa. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Head coach: Jeff Napa
Last season: 13-5 (Champion)
Key holdovers: Rey Nambatac, Mcjour Luib, Jomari Sollano
Key losses: coach Aldin Ayo, Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal

A lot has changed over the course of the year for the defending NCAA champions Letran.

Gone are coach Aldin Ayo and leaders Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal, all essential parts in the Knights’ dream run last season.

But for new head coach Jeff Napa, it’s just a matter of putting in the effort to minimize the effects of the changes in the team’s lineup.

“Kung magtutulong-tulong kami lahat, yung mga kawalan sa team, hindi naman na ganoon mararamdaman,” he said. “Syempre iba yung last year, pero di pa rin matatawaran yung mga naiwan sa team.”

In his first season at the helm for Letran, Napa will put his trust on veterans Rey Nambatac, Mcjour Luib, and Jomari Sollano as the Knights eye back-to-back titles this year.

But the multi-titled mentor knows it won’t be an easy hill to climb, as even he himself will have to make some adjustments going from the juniors to the seniors tournaments. Fortunately for him, his system isn’t far off from the one Letran has been running, making his transition period a little bit easier.

“With the help of the team, di naman ako ganun nahirapan dahil sa kanila ako nag-adjust. Tinulungan nila ako mapadali yun. Malaking bagay din na almost the same system ang tinatakbo namin. Kumbaga, dinagdagan ko na lang yung mga gusto naming gawin this season,” he said.

And for the Knights to replicate its run to the crown, Napa needs all his players to do their roles and help each other out amid the big changes in the team.

“Mabigat naman talaga yung responsibilidad para sa lahat. Yung 18 players na naka-lineup, alam naman nila yun. Ang motto lang ng team na ito ngayon, tulungan. Kailangang everybody will step up and ineenjoy ko na lang yung pressure. Positive na lang kami sa magiging outcome,” he said.

“Ang alam ko lang mas gutom itong mga ito.”