Key losses: Fran Yu, Louie Sangalang, Brent Paraiso, King Caralipio
Key holdovers: Kurt Reyson, Pao Javillonar, Kobe Monje, Kevin Santos
Season 98 record: 13-5 (Champions)
In the upcoming NCAA Season 99, the mission is crystal clear for Colegio de San Juan de Letran: deliver a rare four-peat.
That, however, is easier said than done, especially with the Knights bidding goodbye to stars like Finals MVPs Fran Yu and King Caralipio and veterans Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario, who were all essential to their three-straight championship run.
But the Muralla crew, as evident in their previous campaigns, isn't likely to have any shortage in manpower when they look to make it four crowns in a row — a feat never achieved by Letran in the past.
Expected to lead the Knights this time around are sniper and team captain Kurt Reyson, who dropped 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in Season 98 while playing alongside the likes of Caralipio, Paraiso, and Yu.
Reyson turned heads in the offseason competitions, steering Letran in its campaigns in the PBA D-League and the 2023 FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup, which saw them reach the semifinals and quarterfinals stage, respectively.
Joining Reyson at the forefront are veterans like Pao Javillonar (6.5 ppg and 5.3 rpg in 20 minutes per game) and Kobe Monje, who are expected to step into bigger roles this season.
The team will also have other holdovers in Kevin Santos, Rafael Go, Kyle Tolentino, Andrey Guarino, Kint Ariar, and Enrico Bojorcelo while completing Letran's squad are Deo Cuajao, Ken Brillantes, Nicko Fajardo, Jay Garupil, James Jumao-As, and Joseph Nunag.
Rensy Bajar, no stranger to winning as a longtime deputy to previous coach Bonnie Tan, will also begin his first head coaching stint.
Reyson understands the pressure that comes with his appointment as the skipper, but the graduating guard said they will just take it one game at a time as they hope to retain the title in Intramuros.
"Sa akin naman, malaking challenge 'to na iniwan ng mga nagdala ng three-peat sa amin," Reyson said.
("For me, this is a big challenge left behind by those that delivered the three-peat.")
"'Yung pressure naman ando'n naman lagi 'yan so sa akin lang, hindi ko naman iniisip 'yun kasi mawawala kami sa focus. Ang iniisip ko na lang is paano kami mananalo sa bawat laro."
("The pressure is always going to be there. So for me, I don't think about it because we'll just lose focus. What I'm thinking of is how to win each game.")
NCAA Season 99 opens on September 24. Watch the games live on GTV.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
