Gallant in defeat - the Letran Knights and a possible future without aces

The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights sat shell-shocked at one end of the Araneta Coliseum. There were barely any tears. After all, they had three quarters to let it simmer. The San Red College Red Lions had unleashed their fury, burying the Knights in a 20-point hole entering the final period. There had been a lot of time to let it sink in. "Sobrang sama ng laro namin. They played well. Kami naman, pinaka-masamang laro namin sa series," said Letran head coach Louie Alas. "It happens. Yung ayaw namin mangyari, nangyari." The Letran community wasn't prepared for the massacre. They had packed their side of the stadium as tightly as the red team's supporters, but for most of the game, they merely sat there, in awe at how the San Beda defense swallowed their entire arsenal. Kevin Alas finished 0-of-10 from the three point line, while Kevin Racal was 1-of-9 from the field. Veteran big man Jam Cortes was held to just six points, while game two hero Jonathan Belorio was limited to none. "We had a great run. Hindi ko mabe-blame ang mga players ko. It's all my fault; baka kulang yung preparasyon ko," added coach Alas, who was more than willing to take responsibility for the game 3 collapse. For any Letran fan, this magical run, coming back from a 1-3 start to the season, dispatching the second-seeded San Sebastian squad in two games, taking the defending champions to three games, may leave one with much faith and positivity. Next season, they'll still have coach Louie. They'll still have mythical five selection Kevin Alas. Or will they? "Siguro papahinga muna kami. Saka na namin pag-iisipan," said Kevin Alas. The scoring machine was not ready to talk about the future. Perhaps he just was too tired. Perhaps he just wasn't ready. Perhaps there was just no future to talk about. For the young gun, getting this close and not making it should leave an itch that needs to be scratched - a perfect motivation to come out with guns blazing next year. However, it looked like he had nothing left to prove in the collegiate league. He had slashed through and scored over the likes of Ola Adeogun. He had faced a Calvin Abueva-led San Sebastian squad in the Final Four and beat them twice. Does he really need a championship to cement his greatness as an athlete? "Nagpapasalamat ako sa buong Letran community sa all-out support nila. Yun lang, na-disappoint namin sila nung last game. Nagpapasalamat ako dahil kahit na-disappoint namin sila, nandyan parin sila sumusuporta," were the last words of Kevin Alas before kissing the cross by the dugout and walking out of the stadium. Kevin Alas walked away while Calvin Abueva approached the hardcourt en route to another double-double in only his second game in the PBA. Does a Bedan beatdown spell doom for an NCAA star? Apparently not. His father, too, was not a picture of disappointment. The Letran mentor, who later announced that this would be his last season with the team, looked satisfied with his players' accomplishment, getting through the gritty Stags and pushing the two-time defending champions to a deciding match. "I'm sorry we came up short but that's basketball. May natatalo. We played very poor basketball today and San Beda deserved to be champion," added the coach. In moments like this, coaches may end up having a lot to say or nothing at all. Some would scream or yell in anger, while others might focus on the bright side and talk with optimism-tinged voices. When asked what he had told his boys once he entered the Letran locker room at the end of the game, coach Alas answered: "I told them I love them. That's all." - AMD/OMG, GMA News