DESPITE a fine first round where many believed them exceeded expectations, Letran coach Allen Ricardo insisted the Knights still have their work cut out for them.
“Malayo pa. A 6-3 record is hindi ka pa dadalhin sa Final Four, so we still have nine games. Sa nine games, siguro, hopefully maka-seven or six wins pero the way things around medyo grabe iyong competition, dikit-dikit na iyong mga teams,” Ricardo said. “So, hindi natin alam baka iyong No. 8 or 7 biglang umangat.
“Hindi natin masabi that’s why you need to have sense of urgency when playing, iyon naman ang sinasabi ko sa kanila,” he added.
The Intramuros-based crew wrapped up its first-round bid with a 6-3 mark for third capped by a 76-66 win over Lyceum last Saturday.
Last Saturday, the Knights finished their first round with a victory after toppling gritty Lyceum of the Philippines University, 76-66.
Ricardo said Letran’s 71-69 squeaker over College of St. Benilde last Sept. 22 boosted the morale and confidence of the team.
“Noong natapos iyong CSB game, medyo big win kasi iyon so noong natapos iyong CSB game, Kevin Santos and the rest kumbaga umangat iyong level ng basketball namin and then nandoon na rin iyong understanding nila, nandoon iyong tiwala nila, iyong kumpiyansa nila sakin, ganoon din iyong kumpiyansa nila sa isa’t isa kasi sa totoo lang ang mahirap makuha iyong isang panalo, iyong pangalawang panalo and so on,” he said. “Ang mga bata kasi kahit sabihin mong kahit gaano ka kagaling sa ensayo mayroon pa rin iyong pakiramdam na ‘di ba paano ba tayo mananalo, ‘di ba? With you as coach, what can you bring to the table and talagang itong mga bata na ito hands down ako sa kanila. talagang binigay naman nila sa akin iyong respeto and then ginive-up nila iyong ego nila para sa team.”
