Colegio de San Juan de Letran head coach Bonnie Tan knew their match against their opponents in last season’s finals, Mapua University, would be a highly-contested one.
But the champion coach admitted he was surprised to see the Cardinals engage in a 'very physical' outing.
"I'm happy with the players na - lalo na iyong mga veterans natin na nag-step up sa endgame. Iyon nga iyong sinabing composure, nandoon," Tan said following a tight 67-62 win on Tuesday.
"Kasi medyo Mapua played hindi lang physical, very physical na game, so we're expecting that pero medyo kami iyong natalo sa huli dahil we have two players na na-thrown out sa endgame."
Overall, Mapua committed a total of 32 fouls with Jasper Salenga and Jeric Pido fouling out of the ballgame after accumulating five each. From those fouls, Mapua let Letran troop to the charity stripe 36 times with the Knights sinking 21 freebies.
But with Mapua's highly-physical game, Letran was also forced to match their intensity as they were whistled for 23 fouls on their side.
Big man Louie Sangalang was ejected from the game after incurring a second technical foul late in the fourth. Letran gunner Brent Paraiso was also slapped with a disqualifying four for an act of violence with 5:28 left to spare in the game after hitting Rence Nocum on the back of the head when the two were jostling for the ball.
Tan is hoping that his team is able to stay ready heading to another crucial battle, this time with longtime rival San Beda University on Friday.
"A win's a win pero iyon nga looking forward sa next game natin. 'Di ko na alam kung anong mangyayari kasi after two days, we have a game against San Beda."
—JMB, GMA News
