Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Letran is in a precarious predicament heading into the Final Four of the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament.
After their loss to San Beda, the Knights failed to get a precious edge in the race for a spot in the semifinals as they dropped to 8-9 and tied with Arellano and San Sebastian at the fourth spot.
And in the event that all three teams win their respective final matches in the eliminations, they would be relegated to playoff games to figure out who gets the last semifinals spot.
Knights head coach Jeff Napa, though, is not focusing on the fate of the Chiefs and the Golden Stags.
“We don’t care what the other teams will do,” said Napa in Filipino Friday after the 73-68 setback at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“All we care about right now is the must win on Tuesday against College of St. Benilde. So let’s see what happens.”
The Knights had the chance to lock up the fourth seed but Napa’s team faltered in the end game against the defending champions.
San Beda went on an 11-2 game-closing run to take the victory and deflate Letran’s hopes of an easier path to the semifinals.
“Of course we’re frustrated because the players gave it all,” said Napa. “But we’re still positive and we have to win against Benilde.”