Colegio de San Juan de Letran head coach Bonnie Tan stressed that their latest game against San Sebastian College-Recoletos should serve as a wake-up call despite them coming away with the win.
The Knights were able to erect a lead as big as 15, 63-48, in the early part of the fourth quarter, but a late-game scramble allowed the Stags to come to within three, 72-69, on a basket by JM Calma with 9.3 seconds left.
Jeo Ambohot then split his freebies while an offensive rebound from him completed the win, 73-69, for Letran as they improved to 8-0 for an outright semifinal berth.
Still, Tan wasn't happy, especially with the way they played in the payoff period.
"[It was a] bad fourth quarter. They outscored us, 25 to 18. First to third [quarter] okay naman, dikit 'yung game, pero nung fourth quarter doon kami nahirapan," said Tan on Tuesday.
Tan said they need to avoid this kind of performance when they take on storied rival San Beda University on Friday as the Red Lions, who are eager to book their own place in the Final Four, are still contention to snatch away the top spot.
"Masaya, we're happy but we want to get the number one this coming Friday's game. We have to win kasi kahit anong mangyari do'n, kung matalo kami, number two kami do'n," the champion coach added.
"Again, we're blessed na nandito kami sa status namin and this kind of game na natalo kami sa fourth quarter, maybe that's a wake-up call for us to not to be complacent sa Friday's game."
"If we want to secure 'yung number one, we should win our last game."
—JMB, GMA News
