Bonnie Tan admitted that not having Fran Yu for the deciding game of the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Finals will be tough for defending champion Letran.
After all, the 5-foot-10 floor general was pivotal during the Knights’ conquests of San Beda in Season 95 and Mapua last season due to his composure in big games.
Yu was suspended for his final collegiate game after being assessed a disqualifying foul back in Game Two.
“Opo talagang bilang isang head coach po mawalan ka po ng isang leader sa loob ng court po ay nakakapanghinayang,” Tan told GMA 7’s 24 Oras.
“Pero hindi naman po ito ang first time nangyari, during elimination namin may nangyari na rin po sa amin na suspension — sa game one po namin nung championship din, nangyari na po ito,” he continued as Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, Kyle Tolentino, and Kobe Monje were suspended throughout the season.
“And bilang head coach po greatly affected po ‘yung run namin sa rotation po ng players namin sa loob ng court.”
Yu averaged 10.81 points, 4.38 rebounds, 4.19 assists, and 1.95 steals in the season.
As stated, Yu has been the biggest factor in their last two championship wins with the 24-year-old winning the Finals MVP honor in Season 95.
“Ang biggest challenge po is ‘yung playing without a leader sa loob ng court na pano po kami manalo; pano po kami mag-close out ng games,” Tan lamented.
“Lalo na sa endgame po pag wala po ‘yung…alam naman po natin nabibigay ni Fran Yu bilang isang leader po namin, and sa court po [napaka-laki] ng nabibigay ni Fran Yu sa endgame namin.”
Without Yu, Tan is pinning his hopes on seven-year Letranite Tommy Olivario and Kurt Reyson to handle the ball-handling duties for the Knights.
Besides that, the 50-year-old Filipino-Chinese head coach, who is also the team manager of NorthPort, is hoping for the entire community to support them in the rubber match set to take place at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
“Sana po mag tuloy po ‘yung supporta and mga prayers po nila sa team ng Letran. And, dahil sa past three seasons naging successful naman po ‘yung campaign po namin. Despite po na challenges, and struggles ng team,” he said.
“Sana madagdagan sa ngayon etong third season namin ng supporta, and prayers dahil iba po ‘yung sitwasyon ngayon ng team na nawala po ‘yung leader namin sa loob ng court po na si Fran Yu.”
