Colegio de San Juan de Letran needs only one more win to complete its bid for a rare three-peat and the reigning back-to-back champions will look to get that in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 Finals against De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde on Sunday.
Letran will go for the jugular at 3 p.m. at the Smart Araneta Coliseum with the Knights looking to pull off a series and season sweep against top seed Benilde.
But while the odds are now in their favor, the Knights won't take the Blazers easily.
After all, Letran will be parading an undermanned lineup as rookie Kobe Monje will serve a one-game suspension after getting slapped with a disqualifying foul early in Game 1. The Knights will also be without Kyle Tolentino, who was also meted a one-game ban following a review from the league officials which found him occupying the landing spot of Benilde's Migs Oczon in the opening minutes of the previous game.
Oczon, meanwhile, is also highly likely to miss Game 2 for the Blazers due to the injury.
"If we’re the defending champion, that’s last season. Last season pa ‘yon. Now, we have an advantage so we’re the llamados heading into the next game," said Tan.
Letran big man Louie Sangalang is tipped to continue his dominance. Except for their first round meeting, which he missed as he was suspended at the time, the 6-foot-4 slotman has been unstoppable against the Blazers.
Sangalang churned out 21 points during their second round clash and followed that up with 24 markers, 10 rebounds, and two assists in Game 1 as the Knights moved on the cusp of a third straight title.
Benilde, meanwhile, will bank on Will Gozum and Miggy Corteza as well as guards JC Cullar, Robi Nayve, and Jimboy Pasturan.
"We just try to encourage them that we can compete with this Letran team even though they beat us three times," said Benilde head coach Charles Tiu.
"The good thing is it's a series and not a one-game thing."
Catch Game 2 of the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball Finals on GMA and GTV and via livestream on the social media platforms of GMA Sports PH and NCAA Philippines.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
