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BASTA PINOY! SPORTS REVIEW

Letran still a force to reckon in NCAA

MANILA, July 6 -- Losing Jerby Raymundo and two
other key players is a big blow to San Juan de Letran's bid for a three-peat crown.

But coach Binky Favis will again try to do the impossible in the forthcoming 76th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball season kicking off July 22.

Favis admits this year's line-up got nothing to show. Aside from Raymundo, the Knights lost John Paul Prior who graduated early this year and its best shooter Allan Salangsang to the MBA.

Also, three-point shooter Jose Nicolas Pacheco is out of the season due to ACL.

But one thing Favis is proud of this year's line-up is its
solidarity and fighting spirit.

"We got no stars, no go-to guy. But I see something good 'coz everybody wants to step up. I see that distinct fire in their eyes. Maganda ang unity and bonding ng team, and everybody is just excited to embrace the challenge," explained Favis.

Veteran Jason Misolas and six-foot-four Orlan Tama will try to make up for the loss of Raymundo together with holdovers Aldin Ayo, Billy Moody, Ticboy Soriano, and Marco Garcia who'll be pulled out
from the bench.

Favis admits he got no exemplary rookie but hopes his six promising new recruits blend well with the mainstays. He's been working out on defense, and still has to improve on offense.

And with a stroke of luck, Favis hopes to do a repeat of his impossible feat of sorts last season when he steered the Knights from a seventh place finish after the first round to clinching their back-to-back crown.

"Since we lack the height the only way we could neutralize talented players from other teams is to work on our defensive strategies. Execution is equally important, I just hope we could move the ball to the hilt," explained Favis.

"We got nothing to lose. We are just eager to be underdogs and this will be a big test for us, a great learning experience. 

Kung aabot kami sa semis, well and fine. If not, we will still be proud that we've done our best," he added.

For Favis, Jose Rizal College and University of Perpetual Help Rizal are the teams to beat this season. But he warns College of St. Benilde, San Beda and Philippine Christian University should
not be taken for granted.

"To reach the semis is not really important for us now.  What's important is to see how far that kind of team spirit will go and show the best we can possibly be," Favis added. (SNS)

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