Letran Knights answer coach Ricardo’s call for courage, toughness
Photo source: NCAA Media Team/GMA Sports
The Letran Knights scored an impressive victory in NCAA basketball on Sunday, September 22 by becoming the first team to hand the CSB Blazers a loss in Season 100.
CSB led by as much as 14 points, 60-46, and looked poised to secure another dominant triumph on their way to an unblemished 5-0 record.
The Knights, who blew an 11-point first half lead, had other plans. Spearheaded by the superb shooting of sniper Deo Cuajao, Letran slowly and surely inched closer in the game’s final frame. Despite the Blazers’ height advantage, Letran was able to limit their scoring in the paint then relied on clutch heroics from their playmakers to hit the necessary shots in the final minutes of action.
“Talagang ‘yung mga bata, pinakita nila ‘yung tapang nila. ‘Yon naman inemphasize ko, ‘yung courage. Kailangan matapat tayo, walang susuko. Kahit anong mangyari, Kahit anong mga challenges, and nakita ko naman sakanila ‘yon,” Knights head coach Allen Ricardo said after the game.
Letran improved their record to 3-2, but this victory in particular should act as a solid morale booster for a team that’s looking to make its way back to championship contention after a tough Season 99.
“I do believe you just play the game eh, regardless of what the score is eh. Don’t show frustrations sa kalaban. Kasi kapag nakikita nila nagkakagulo kayo, nakikita nila na parang bumababa na kayo, eh mas sasamantalahin nila ‘yung opportunity na ‘yon, ‘yung weakness na ‘yon. Kaya ayaw na ayaw kong ipapakita ‘yung gano’ng bagay. Kailangan matatag tayo regardless of the score,” Ricardo stated.
Cuajao finished with a game-high 20 points for Letran, with 12 coming in the final 10 minutes. Before fouling out, Sherick Estrada had 17 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
“’Di ba, clutch?” Ricardo said about Cuajao. “Sabi ko kay Deo, talagang pagka may onting space, sa’yo ‘yan. Kasi ever since pa naman, nakita ko na si Deo Cuajao na how clutch he is eh. So wala munang problema sa’kin, especially ‘pag shot clock whining down, binibigay ko talaga sakanya ‘yon.”
The game-sealing basket for Letran came courtesy of a good link up between Nat Montecillo and Kevin Santos. The latter missed his first five shot attempts before converting a tough bucket in the paint thanks to the penetration by Montecillo, who delivered a precise pass.
“Syempre, ang laking kumpyansa do’n sa mga bata,” Ricardo said. “Especially, si Kevin Santos. Sa totoo lang, from the start of the season, medyo a little bit shaky. Talagang nando’n pa sa process na kung papano ko siya gagamitin kasi talagang, ako kasi, as a coach, ‘yung technique matuturo eh, pero napaka-versatile ko doon sa attitude and body language. Kaya ‘yon ‘yung lagi ko ineemphasize sa ensayo sa kanya.”
As the Knights learn to win more games, they are guided by the philosophies of a head coach that aims to get the best out of his players.
