WITH reigning two-time champion Letran’s perfect campaign last season now a thing of the past, Knights coach Bonnie Tan wants his wards to address the biggest chink in their armor — turnovers — if they intend to keep the crown.
“That’s been our weakness,” Tan said. “I saw in our practices and in our stats, we’re number one in turnovers. Majority of those result in crucial transition points.”
Letran seeks a fourth straight win when it takes on Perpetual Help today in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
The match kicking off both teams’ second-round drive is set at 3 p.m. after San Beda University and Arellano University launch their bids in the tourney’s halfway mark when they square off in the curtain-raiser at noon.
The Knights will go into the duel boosted by a 72-68 triumph over Emilio Aguinaldo College six days ago.
The likes of Fran Yu, Kurt Reyson, King Caralipio, Louie Sangalang, and Brent Paraiso are expected to carry the fight for Letran in its bid to improve its 6-3 card.
Carrying a 4-5 mark, the Altas are raring to atone for a 52-71 drubbing at the hands of the Red Lions last Wednesday.
Perpetual will pin its hopes on Kim Aurin, Jielo Razon, JP Boral, and Joey Barcuma.
The Knights nipped the Altas 70-67 when they first met last Oct. 8.
Also sporting a 6-3 record like Letran, San Beda will bank on James Kwekuteye, JB Bahio, Justine Sanchez, and Tony Ynot.
The Chiefs, coming off a painful 80-82 loss to Lyceum seven days ago that dropped them to 4-5, will rely on Axel Doromal, Shane Menina, Joshua Abastillas, and Fil-Aussie big man Cade Flores.
The Lions blasted Arellano 96-61 in their first-round clash last Oct. 7.
