LIKE a father who wants nothing but the best for his sons, coach Bonnie Tan of reigning three-time champion Letran had these parting words for the Knights bidding the team adieu — they can’t be patsies in the pros.
“Like our other players na nasa PBA na ngayon, lagi kong sinasabi sa kanila na iyong access ay okay, pero once na nakapasok ka sa PBA, it’s all work,” Tan said.
“You have to prove na you deserve to play in the PBA so alam nila iyan na hindi porke’t ma-draft sila o nandoon iyong mga kasama nila ay habambuhay,” he added.
Tan was referring to guards Fran Yu, Brent Paraiso, and Tommy Olivario and forward King Caralipio, who are planning to join the pros after their stint in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament.
With the 6-foot-2 Caralipio, a native of Moncada, Tarlac, showing the way in the Big Dance, Letran completed a three-peat with a 2-1 title win capped by an 81-67 drubbing of College of St. Benilde in the deciding match last Sunday.
Caralipio was named the finals MVP.
“Walang malas doon sa hard work and sa pasensiya,” Tan said. “I’m happy for King, playing his last season, nag-finals MVP pa.”
Said Caralipio: “Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin. Sobrang sarap po, sobrang blessed na nakuha namin dito iyong championship.”
Caralipio finished his collegiate career with three crowns.
Ditto with Yu, who bagged the finals MVP plum in 2019 after moving to the Knights from the University of the East.
Olivario won four diadems as a member of the Intramuros-based five, the first one coming in 2015 when he was still using the surname Gedaria (he changed his surname when his parents got married) under former tactician Aldin Ayo.
Paraiso, who transferred from University of Santo Tomas to Letran in 2020, ended up with three rings, counting a title he won in 2016 when he was still suiting up for La Salle in the UAAP.
Toughened up by championship experience, Tan said it’s now up to Yu and his batchmates to prove their worth in the pros.
“It’s up to them kung paano nila bibigyan ng magandang ending ang career nila,” he said.
