Letran College would like to enjoy its back-to-back National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 99 juniors basketball championship for a while.
Then it’s back to work for head coach Allen Ricardo.
The mentor allowed himself to bask a little in the glory of delivering the Squires’ 14th overall crown after a hard-fought best-of-three finals series that went a full distance against an inexperienced but feisty University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.
But he would have to utilize the break before the next tournament to start rebuilding his squad which will lose most of his seniors and key players as the Squires try to make it three in a row to solidify their dynasty.
“That’s a difficult question (about building a dynasty). But again, it will be a different year. We’ll just enjoy this moment and start recruiting again,” Ricardo said following Letran’s 93-76 victory over the Junior Altas in the deciding Game 3 Saturday morning at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Season 100 would be another challenging year for Ricardo following the departure of Finals Most Valuable Player Jonathan Manalili along with workhorse big man George Diamante, Jovel Baliling, Jolo Navarro, Lex Gazzingan, Thirdie Golez and Jash de Leon.
“So, we need to find replacements for the seven outgoing players for the Squires to be able to compete in Season 100,” Ricardo said.
Fortunately for Letran, Syrus Silorio, who was the hero of the title-clinching match, will return next year.
Silorio delivered 27 points including six straight in the opening minutes of the fourth period that allowed the Squires to create a comfortable cushion on their way to blowing out Perpetual.
It was his way of making up for missing two crucial free throws in the waning seconds of Game 2 that could’ve wrapped up the series. Perpetual escaped 91-90 to force Game 3.
The championship, on the other hand, was a dream come true for Manalili.
“I’m just happy because this is my dream. I really want my whole playing career here in the NCAA (juniors) to be a champion and I was able to realize that,” the Knights-commit guard said.
All graduating players of the Squires have already expressed their intentions to join the seniors squad.
Parting with his veterans is a bitter-sweet moment for Ricardo. But he expects them to thrive at the college level as well as return to the high school team to uplift the spirits of those left behind.
“What is important for us is to be able to engage our previous players with the current stock of players. Letran basketball is rich in history,” he said.
“At least they get to see the culture and as I always tell my players soon, eight years from now, it will be your turn to return to Letran to talk and give advice and share the trials you went through to uplift the future generations of Letranites,” Ricardo added.
