By: Miguel Caramoan
Allen Ricardo knows what it takes to build a winning program.
In the NCAA Juniors Division, he put together an impressive run with the Letran Squires, capturing two championships during his tenure.
But moving up to the seniors division came with a different kind of grind. In his first year as head coach of the Knights in Season 100, Letran missed the Final Four.
Now, in just his second season at the helm, Ricardo has finally broken through, steering Letran to his first seniors Final Four appearance after eliminating the higher-seeded Arellano University in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball quarterfinals.
For Ricardo, adapting quickly was the only option — especially for a team determined to regain its place among the league’s top contenders.
“I’m thankful to be given this opportunity to lead the Letran Knights. So for me, as a sophomore in this league, I think I’m trying to get better, always study the film, always ask the veteran coaches. Coaching doesn’t stop for me,” said Ricardo, a former understudy of longtime Letran head coach Louie Alas.
One constant source of guidance has been Letran legend Kerby Raymundo, who served as an assistant coach last season.
Raymundo’s presence proved invaluable, especially during the Knights’ troubling 0-3 start this season — a stretch that even saw internal squabbles surface within the team.
With his experience as the NCAA Season 75 MVP and a key figure in Letran’s championship runs in Seasons 74 and 75, Raymundo became a steadying voice when the program needed it most.
“I also want to acknowledge Kerby Raymundo because siya yung isa sa mga reasons behind, nung nag-struggle kami ng team, nandyan siya. Yung experience niya shinare niya sa akin at sa mga bata and I appreciate it,” said the two-time NCAA Coach of the Year.
With the Final Four now set, Ricardo understands that expectations will only grow heavier. But pressure, he believes, is part of the privilege of coaching a historic program like Letran.
For him, the key is staying focused on what the team needs — whether that means tactical adjustments, fixing errors, or reinforcing the culture that defines the Knights.
“Yung pressure nandyan naman and it’s a privilege. Kumbaga, I just do my job, kung ano yung dapat kong gawin, and kung ano yung dapat ko gawin or itama para sa kanila,” he said.
