CAN reigning two-time champion Letran reach the Promised Land anew against College of St. Benilde for the third time in as many seasons?
Coach Bonnie Tan vowed his wards will do whatever it takes to keep the crown in Intramuros.
“Pagtatrabahuhan namin kasi No. 1 team ang Benilde,” Tan said. “So, mindset pa rin namin is nasa dehadong side tayo.”
The Knights face the Blazers on Sunday, Dec. 4, in Game 1 of their best-of-3 finals duel for the 98th NCAA basketball tournament title at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The match is set at 3 p.m., with the combatants keen on gaining the crucial head start in the race-to-2 series.
Letran, the No. 2 team after the eliminations, waylaid third seed Lyceum 67-58 in their Final Four clash three days ago to sustain its three-peat bid dream.
Tan said the Knights are looking forward to the finals battle.
“Excited din kaming makalaban ang CSB sa finals dahil first time din nila after long years na absent sila sa finals,” he said.
“Sana mabigyan natin ng magandang laban iyong CSB.”
Fran Yu, Kurt Reyson, King Caralipio, LouienSangalang, and Brent Paraiso will carry the fight for Letran.
The Blazers, who emerged as the top seed after the elims, reached the finals after pulling off a 62-61 escape over fourth-ranked San Beda University in their semis tiff last Tuesday.
CSB last advanced to the finals in 2002 behind former pro Sunday Salvacion and is raring to bag its second diadem — first since 2000 — in the country’s oldest collegiate league.
The likes of Will Gozum, Migs Oczon, Robi Nayve, Miggy Corteza, JC Cullar, and Jimboy Pasturan will be counted upon by the Taft-based cagers to end their long title drought.
