It was undeniable that Rhenz Abando, the NCAA Season 97 Most Valuable Player, was a big part of Colegio de San Juan de Letran's championship journey.
With Abando taking his talents to South Korea, how will the teams fare in the upcoming season?
For NCAA Season 98 host Anton Roxas, it will be anybody's ballgame.
"I think the ball is up in the air with the departure of Rhenz Abando," he said in an interview with GMA News Online. "I think if Abando is still in Letran, they are still the clear-cut favorites to repeat as champions, but since he's going abroad to take his talents there, I think it's anybody's ballgame."
Martin Antonio, meanwhile, believes Letran still has an advantage for the crown with the arrival of Kobe Monje and a better showing from Fran Yu during the preseason tournaments.
"Excited ako sa Monje kasi [Kobe] Monje played well in the preseason tournaments. Fran Yu has been playing well, finally, maganda 'yung nilalaro niya. Pakiramdam ko sila pa rin 'yung llamado. If you got to beat the man, you got to be the man," he said.
Martin Javier is looking forward to what Abando's absence will bring to the other teams.
"I'm more excited for the other teams, especially kung ano 'yung effect sa kanila ng pag-alis ni Abando. Abando is a notch above everybody else," he said.
"Gusto ko makita 'yung effect sa other teams nung pag-alis ni Abando. Magkakaroon ba sila ng confidence? Kaya ba nila? Interesting kasi wide open 'yung competition for championship."
The hosts also agreed that with new recruits and the crowd coming in, it will be a more exciting NCAA season.
—MGP, GMA News
