Colegio de San Juan de Letran will gun for an outright berth in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball finals as they take on the high school team of Mapua University, while San Beda University and La Salle Green Hills battle again in the Final Four games of the league on Monday.
Letran, which holds a twice-to-beat advantage, last played back in February 20 during the end of the elimination round.
The Squires are expected to rely on the likes of Andy Gemao, who averaged 19.22 points, 6.33 rebounds, 2.56 assists, and 2.22 steals at the end of regular season, and Jonathan Malili with numbers averaging 12.67 points and 3.33 boards per game.
The Muralla-based squad will face a gutsy Mapua University led by Nygel Gonzales who averages 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. The Red Robins were forced to face the Squires after falling to San Beda, 86-75, in the playoffs.
The Red Cubs and the Greenies will face anew in their virtual best-of-three, with San Beda having the advantage after earning the playoff bonus last Thursday from their 83-77 win in the playoff.
The defending champs plan to continue their seven-game winning streak for a chance to advance to the finals.
For head coach Miko Roldan, their last win against the Greenies was proof of their desire to win.
"Sobrang puso lang 'yung nagdala sa amin dito, puso ang nagpapanalo ng game na ito. Nawala si [Andrei] Dungo, then si [Christopher] Hubilla was unsure pa rin nung na-injure siya. He was come and go kanina, at least na-overcome namin 'yung game. I'm just happy for the boys," Roldan said on Thursday.
Prior to entering the Final Four, San Beda was almost at the brink of losing their title as they needed to face San Sebastian College-Recoletos for the last spot in the postseason. They then took down previous tormentor Mapua, before defeating LSGH for the twice-to-beat bonus.
For Roldan, they just need to win one more game to return to the Finals stage.
"One game at a time lang kami. We just want to win one more game against them so we can secure the Finals, then we'll just worry about the Finals later on," said Roldan, adding that LSGH is also a formidable team.
For LSGH head coach Renren Ritualo, the loss against San Beda was just a difficulty they did to themselves, but will still focus on the task ahead.
Just like Roldan, Ritualo said they'll take it one game at a time.
"Pinahirapan lang namin sarili namin. Gusto ng mga bata mahirap, ito na binigay sa amin. We just have to focus on the game on Monday. That's our mindset, one game at a time muna," said Ritualo.
"Stay in the moment, stay in the present, huwag muna nila isipin 'yung the following game. We have to take care of business on Monday."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
