Kobe Monje is ready to step up and lead for the embattled Colegio de San Juan de Letran as the Knights will have to close out their NCAA Season 99 campaign without their main offensive weapon, Kurt Reyson.
Letran head coach Rensy Bajar said the graduating team captain has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament after sustaining injuries on his hip and hamstring during their November 3 loss against Emilio Aguinaldo College, which eliminated them from contention.
Alongside Reyson, also set to miss the Knights' last two games are Andrey Guarino and Nicko Fajardo, setting the stage for Monje to take the leader role as Letran eyes to end its campaign on a high note.
"Nung una hindi ko pa masyadong (ma-embrace) ‘yung role na ‘yun kasi dati naman role player lang ako eh," Monje said after leading Letran to a 67-58 win against Arellano on Tuesday.
"Naglalaro lang ako ng mga eight minutes lang, pinakamatagal na siguro ‘yung 15. Sinasabi lang sa akin ni Coach Rensy na kailangan ko lang mag-step up kasi wala ng iba eh."
("At first, I wasn't ready to embrace that role because I was just a role player in the past. I'd play for just eight minutes, maybe 15 at the most. Coach Rensy just tells me that I need to step up because there's no one else.")
The sophomore cager, who was part of the three-peat champion team in Season 98, proved he can be the next man up for the Muralla crew, averaging 10.47 points before this game alongside 5.53 rebounds, and 1.27 assists.
Against the Chiefs, he poured in 13 points on 50-percent shooting percentage laced with three rebounds, four assists, and one steal to help Letran capture its second win.
Bajar expressed pride in the development of Monje, who has been his player ever since he entered the Letran as part of former head coach Bonnie Tan's coaching staff in 2019.
"I'm very proud of Kobe kasi since I started at Letran, player ko na siya sa Team B so ‘yung approach ko sa kanya since 2019 nandito pa rin hanggang ngayon," Bajar shared.
"I believe na talagang siya ‘yung nasa level and ready na maging superstar."
("I'm very proud of Kobe because since I started at Letran, he was my player in Team B so the my approach with him has been the same since 2019. I believe he is on that next level and he's ready to become a superstar.")
Letran still has two remaining games in the elimination round, taking on Benilde on Sunday before wrapping up its season against rival San Beda University next Friday.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
