SAN BEDA University Red Lions cannot afford to relax heading into their best-of-three NCAA Season 95 men’s seniors basketball finals showdown with Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights despite beating their opposition twice in the eliminations.
Red Lions team manager Jude Roque said their 18-0 sweep of the eliminations does not matter anymore; they expect their rivals Knights to give their all in a bid to unseat them.
“We cannot really be overconfident against any opponent,” Roque said. “Yung 18-0 namin nung eliminations kinakalimutan na namin because ‘yung Letran is capable of beating us.”
Roque added that the team is a little bit concerned about how ready it would be going into Game 1 on Nov. 12 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena; it is already idle from hard court action for three weeks.
“It’s quite difficult kasi siyempre mga bata pa ‘yung mga players. They have the tendency to relax, to be overconfident. Tapos nagkaroon pa ng mahabang break so you know nagkaroon sila ng kaunting mindset na ‘uy bakasyon muna,’” Roque said.
That’s very risky coming into the finals.
“So ‘yun ‘yung binabantayan namin na huwag namang mangyari sa amin na maging overconfident. It’s not easy trying to find tune-up games while on break kasi busy rin lahat ng teams,” said Roque.
Knights barged to the finals of the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball after beating Lyceum Pirates, 92-88, in the second phase of the stepladder semifinals on Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
Game 2 of the titular showdown is on Nov. 15 and if necessary, Game 3 will be on Nov. 19.
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The Lopue’s-MassKara Invitational Table Tennis Championship recently awarded winners in a variety of categories during the competition held at the Lopue’s San Sebastian annex building in Bacolod City.
Daryl Gorecho won the 10 & Under boys division; Ameera Bacomo took the 10 & Under girls competition; Neka Daguia – 13 & Under girls; Dirk Nickhole Atilano – 13 & Under boys; Micah Tanate – 18 & Under girls; Atilano – 18 & Under boys; Kim Trasporto – women’s executive (a); Dr. Analo Claridad – women’s executive (b); Pastor Richard Ginete – men’s executive; and Robert Arteche – veterans.
Participants came from across the province, representing several schools. Athletes also arrived from Tacloban City and Roxas City, along with Antique.
In addition, the Filipino-Chinese Amity Table Tennis Association and Altruist Table Tennis Club also joined the competition.
The competition was part of an overall initiative to develop players from the grassroots./PN
