Alfrancis Chua bared that Colegio de San Juan de Letran's three-peat title win against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde was the sweetest of the school's recent run of championships.
This is because of the adversity that the Knights had to overcome to reach the top in NCAA Season 98.
"Oo naman. Nawala sila Abando, si Bataller 'di nakapaglaro. Ang daming na-injure, ang daming nagka-COVID, pero sabi ko nga kay Bonnie unti-unti lang. By doing that, we're using our bench players, nakakadevelop tayo," said Chua, the SMC sports director who also serves as the special assistant to the rector for sports development for Letran.
Before the season, Letran lost high-flying star player Rhenz Abando after he decided to bring his act to the professional ranks with the Korean Basketball League's Anyang KGC. Abando, the NCAA Season 97 rookie of the year and MVP, led the team during the Knights' championship run. Meanwhile, Ira Battaller, who transferred to Letran alongside Abando and Brent Paraiso, was unable to make the Knights' lineup this season.
Several players then contracted COVID-19 on the opening game day of Season 98, which forced the league to reschedule the Knights' clash with host Emilio Aguinaldo College.
But despite the early struggles for the Muralla crew, Letran was able to go all the way after overcoming Benilde in their best-of-three title showdown last Sunday, giving the school its first taste of a three-peat feat since 1984.
"Tignan mo 'yung mga naglaro kanina, puro rookie, pero nagkaroon na ng kumpyansa kasi nakapaglaro na sila dati. Good experience for us and nadala namin hanggang championship," Chua added.
Aside from the bumps in the road in the early season, Letran had plenty of other challenges, including several suspensions to key players.
Louie Sangalang and Brent Paraiso were slapped with two-game suspensions in the first round, leading to elimination round losses against San Beda and Lyceum.
In the finals, Letran was also challenged after three players were suspended while two were reprimanded.
Kobe Monje was suspended for Game Two after accumulating a disqualifying foul in Game 1 while Kyle Tolentino also missed Game 2 after the league found him occupying the landing spot of Benilde's Migs Oczon during the finals opener.
Team captain and NCAA Season 95 Finals MVP Fran Yu, who played one of the biggest roles in head coach Bonnie Tan's system, was also forced to sit out the title-clinching Game 3 after he was slapped with a suspension due to a DQ foul he received in Game 2.
Paraiso and Paolo Javillonar, meanwhile, were given stern warnings due to separate incidents.
"Ito 'yung pinakamaraming intriga, ang daming na-suspend sa amin, but that's part of the challenge, that's part of growing," Chua added.
"I'm just so proud of the team. If you plan well, the coaching staff plans well and ready tayo sa Game Three, sabi ko kay Bonnie 'di tayo tatalunin."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
