A battle between Knights and Lions

MANILA, Philippines—It’s no secret that a lot can happen in a year, especially in the world of college basketball.

In a year’s time, both teams that squared off in last year’s classic 3-game NCAA finals series have switched commanders, slightly altered their rosters, and have grown immensely as individuals and collectively.

The 3-time defending champions San Beda Red Lions bid farewell to former head coach Ronnie Magsanoc and welcomed coach Boyet Fernandez. While the Letran Knights ushered in coach Caloy Garcia in lieu of coach Louie Alas.

As far as rosters are concerned, the biggest losses for Letran were Kevin Alas and Jam Cortes. They did, however, acquire promising rookie Rey Nambatac along with Franz Dysam, and a boatload of maturity to boot.

San Beda lost key players in Jake Pascual, Melo Lim and Anjo Caram. But they welcomed back into to the fold the Semerad brothers, Anthony and David, as well as Dan Sara. Their experience, ripe as it already is with 3 straight titles to their name and 8 consecutive years of finals appearances, only continues to pile up.

The match-up

There are major differences between these two squads apart from new faces.

San Beda is still the monster team they’ve always been—what with big man Ola Adeogun stationed at the paint and perimeter generals Baser Amer and Dan Sara making sure things run smoothly every play. Art Dela Cruz and Rome Dela Rosa are still the steadying anchors for the Lions. (READ: Baser Amer roars from Davao to Manila)

Nobody can argue with the depth that San Beda brings. They’re a champion team. They have a whole lot of kilometers on their odometer, and size is never really a concern for them. Firepower can also come from anyone. If one isn’t clicking, another can be relied on to pick up the slack. Defense is practically San Beda’s most valued vocabulary.

Not to mention they are made for the big moments. They have the ability to turn it on at exactly the right time. They did just that in their Final Four match against the Perpetual Altas.

The concern for the defending champions right now is their mindset.

They’ve been rattled recently with the issues surrounding guard Ryusei Koga that practically created a huge bubble of uncertainty around their team. Had the allegations of Koga playing in another league during the season been proven accurate, it would have meant that the Lions would fall far from their comfortable perch at the top. Of course, the league recently deferred the investigations. But the damage had already been done. And it showed in the Final Four.

The good thing, though, is that San Beda was able to shake off all of their uncertainties and began packing up some momentum heading into this series.

The question, however, remains: Is it enough? Is 4 days enough for the Lions to gather themselves and put all of their focus on the 4-peat goal?

Looking at the Knights, they are mightily determined and they’ve been incredibly focused as of late, if not the entire season. Mark Cruz has dutifully taken on the role of a leader for Letran. He may only stand at 5’5”, but nobody in this league is belittling him. Cruz is Letran’s spark. And he has also formed a deadly offensive tandem with big man Raymond Almazan.

For his part, Almazan has just grown into an entirely different beast of his own. After being drafted 3^rd overall by Rain or Shine in the PBA Rookie Draft Sunday, November 3, the 6-foot-7 center poured in 19 points, grabbed 23 rebounds, and swatted the ball away 9 times in their Final Four contest against San Sebastian. He may look lanky but clearly, Almazan is no pushover.

Guys like Kevin Racal, Jonathan Belorio, Rey Nambatac and McJour Luib can’t be left behind either. All of them are dangerous pieces especially when they’re on an offensive, even defensive, roll.

Coming into this series, Letran has been a workhorse that’s set its sights on the one ultimate goal of winning it all. They were all business going up against the Stags in the semi-finals and expect them to show that same aggressiveness and more against San Beda.

The stakes, the expectations

Above all else, this finals series will be fueled by the intense rivalry between the two schools, with the highest honor on the line. An additional booster rocket to this series is the fact that this is a rematch of last year’s finals.

For the Lions, it is their chance to prove once again that they are the most dominant force in the league and that they are strong enough to repeat last year’s victory over Letran.

“I believe this is a special one for both schools since there is a lot on the line,” said Paolo Perez, a 20-year old Marketing Management student of San Beda.

“There is animosity between the two schools which adds to the fact that this is a championship game,” Perez added.

Both NCAA fans and non-NCAA fans alike can expect to see this series turn into a dogfight.

“It will be hostile in the court and in the stands since both teams have a lot of pride especially with regards to their basketball teams. Expect it to be intense,” Perez said.

For the Knights, this is a shot at redemption. They want to break an era and perhaps even start one of their own, all by overcoming the very same team that knocked them out last year.

A Political Science graduate of Letran and a supporter since 2002, JP Beltrano also sees this Season 89’s finals series to be a special one.

“This finals is very special because we want to prove (something) to the haters, sa mga nagduda sa team namin na hindi kami makakarating kung nasaan kami ngayong taon.” (This finals is very special because we want to prove (something) to the haters, to those that doubted our team and said that we couldn’t make it to where we are this year.)

For Beltrano, Letran may be the underdogs, but they will not back down.

“Mae-expect ng fans at non-fans na kahit sa tingin nila dehado ang Letran, lalaban kami.” (Fans and non-fans can expect that even if Letran looks like the underdog, we will fight.)

As fans looking at their teams from the stands, both Perez and Beltrano see the advantages of their respective teams over the other.

Perez sees the Lions’ undeniable championship composure coming into play when the pressure becomes too much.

“Our X-Factor is our championship experience and overall bench depth. We have been in the finals for 8 straight years so we are already aware of what to expect,” he said.

The Knights, according to Beltrano, will be banking on the immense maturity and teamwork they have developed over the year.

“Our X-factor is camaraderie, yung team goal, and yung pagkakaisa ng team,” he shared, adding that the match-up is now evenly matched compared to last year. (Our X-factor is our camaraderie, having one team goal, and teamwork.)

With the odds practically evened out and both teams standing on the same ground as far as talent and abilities are concerned, this series will all boil down to focus, the little adjustments in-game, and the sheer will to win.

The Knights are dead-set on avoiding a repeat of last year’s results. And with his future already secured in the pro league, Almazan has nothing else to focus on but going on a tear to tow his team to the top and leave one more lasting legacy for Letran. The rest of his teammates will surely feed off of that kind of determination coupled with their own.

While the Lions will also be fighting for their legacy and their thirst to prove that even when things don’t go their way, they can still be the top team in the league. The Lions are out to get that permanent stamp of supremacy as the NCAA’s king of basketball.

“It would mean vindication for us. Being a Red Lions fan I’ve seen the ups and downs of the team,” Perez shared.

“The 4-peat is our vindication for all the hardships that this team has been through, not just this year but throughout the years. This vindicates our team and our community that never stopped believing.”

Just like San Beda, winning the title will also mean vindication for Letran.

“Gusto rin namin patunayan na pag nagkakaisa talaga ang isang team, they can claim it, yung goal na gusto nila,” Beltrano said. (We really want to prove that when a team bands together, they can claim the goals that they want.)

“Hindi ko siya matatawag na redemption eh, tingin ko we are destined to be champions. This is our time.” (I can’t call it redemption. I think we are destined to be champions. This is our time.)

Both sides believe they are worthy. Both have the tools to make it happen for them. Regardless of the results, the finals rematch between these two talented teams already assures Season 89 of the NCAA will go down in history books.

Today, expect the Knights to wield their swords masterfully, and the Lions to attack ferociously. — Rappler.com