THE hype surrounding its keenly awaited duel with San Beda University on Friday could backfire on defending champion Letran.
That explains why Knights coach Bonnie Tan wants his wards to focus on the task at hand.
Letran tries to move within a win of an elimination round sweep and gain a Final Four slot when it battles San Sebastian College today in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
The match is set at 3 p.m. after the curtain-raiser pitting College of St. Benilde and San Beda at 12 o’clock.
“Baste ang next game namin, so we’ll work with that. We’re not yet looking forward to the game against San Beda sa ngayon,” Tan said. “Sana mag-click ulit iyong game plan naming.”
The Knights whipped Jose Rizal University 81-59 last Saturday that hiked their record to 8-0 and sent the Heavy Bombers packing.
Rhenz Abando, Jeo Ambohot, Fran Yu, Brent Paraiso, Kurt Reyson, and Allen Mina are expected to lead the way for Letran.
With a different tournament format used for this shortened season, there will be no outright finals berth for the Knights even if they win their last two games.
The Golden Stags, coming off a 62-71 loss to the Blazers four days ago, will lean on JM Calma, Ichie Altamirano, Rommel Calahat, Kenneth Villapando, and Alex Desoyo in their bid to improve their 3-5 card and break from a four-way tie with Perpetual Help, Arellano University, and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Despite snapping its two-game losing skid and climbing up to 5-3 for solo third, CSB strategist Charles Tiu has reminded his squad not to let their guards down.
A loss will drop the Blazers to the play-in round.
“It feels nice to finally get a win because when you’re losing those two games, you feel like everything is going wrong. You’re so down,” Tiu said. “So, it’s nice to get the win but, of course, we can’t celebrate. We have to play San Beda and I don’t even know if we’re going to be in the Final Four, so we have to take care of business pa rin.”
Will Gozum, Robi Nayve, AJ Benson, and Miggy Corteza will be relied upon by CSB.
The Red Lions absorbed their first loss, a stunning 54-68 setback at the hands of the Mapua University Cardinals last Saturday.
San Beda will pin its hopes on James Kwekuteye, Ralph Penuela, JB Bahio, Damie Cuntapay, JV Gallego, Tony Ynot, and Rhayyan Amsali.
The top two squads after the single-round eliminations will advance to the Final Four, while the third to sixth seeds will clash in the play-in round.
