THIS could be the Last Waltz unless College of St. Benilde can find a way to stop reigning two-time champion Letran.
The Knights seek a third straight title when they tangle with the Blazers on Sunday, Dec. 11, in Game 2 of their best-of-3 duel for the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 3 p.m., with Letran bidding to wrap up the race-to-2 series and complete a first three-peat romp since 1982-984 when PBA great Samboy Lim led the Intramuros-based squad to three straight diadems.
Playing in the Big Dance for the first time since 2002, the Blazers absorbed a 75-81 loss to the Knights in the first game five days ago.
A deciding Game 3, if necessary, will be on Dec. 18 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan said he is not putting too much pressure on his troops to achieve what the previous Knights team did in the past.
“Regarding the three-peat, we never talk about that. We just do one game at a time.
Three-peat is just a bonus,” Tan said. “Baka lalo pa tayo ma-pressure kapag kinompare pa natin sa previous years nila Samboy Lim.
“Hindi naman namin kailangan i-duplicate, (we will) just handle our own business,” he added.
Fran Yu, Louie Sangalang, and Brent Paraiso are expected to carry the fight for Letran.
Tan wants King Caralipio and Kurt Reyson to also provide the much-needed lift.
“King and Kurt, they’re part of the back-to-back championship run, we consider them veterans,” he said. “Ine-expect namin na saluhan sila. Kung may malas, tulungan lang kami.”
