Emotions poured in for outgoing team captain Renzo Navarro when he played his last game in the NCAA last Tuesday after his Lyceum of the Philippines University fell to Colegio de San Juan de Letran in their Final Four clash.
But even though he's now set to chart another path elsewhere, the veteran court general said he knows he'll be leaving the Pirates in good hands. The 25-year-old Navarro shared he had already talked to incoming third year player Mclaude Guadaña, whom he thinks is ripe to take over the leadership role.
"Sabi ko kay Mac, sa kaniya ko iiwan 'yung role ko kasi siya ‘yung pinaka-capable tsaka siya ‘yung galing sa Juniors na ‘yon [and] ‘yong ginagawa niya talaga," Navarro said.
Guadaña was Lyceum's leading scorer in Season 98, averaging 11.11 points to go along with 2.47 rebounds, 1.79 assists, 1.42 steals, and 0.42 blocks to guide the Pirates to a 12-6 slate at the end of the elimination round and a Final Four run.
Guadaña, though, will have a tough task to lead Lyceum in the years to come, especially with star guard Enoch Valdez still unsure whether he'll be returning for his final playing year in Season 99. Aside from Navarro, also bidding Lyceum goodbye after this season is bruiser Omar Larupay.
"Kailangan niya lang maging ready talaga," Navarro added.
"Sabi ko nga sa kaniya mas magaling siya sa’kin kaya kaya niya ‘yon, i-ready niya lang sarili niya."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
