By: Miguel Caramoan
Colegio de San Juan de Letran head coach Allen Ricardo could not hide his emotions following his team’s loss on Sunday.
Unfamiliar with defeat, the two-time NCAA Juniors Basketball champion grew teary-eyed over the challenges facing the Knights early in the NCAA Season 101 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
With new recruits from rival schools donning the royal blue and yellow, expectations were high for Letran’s campaign.
But after just two games, the Knights remain winless — falling 73–69 to Jose Rizal University before suffering a 68–58 setback against archrival San Beda University.
Head coach Allen Ricardo, who is accustomed to winning in his previous stints, admitted he’s still adjusting to starting the season 0-2.
“For me, I’m not comfortable with this kind of situation. I didn’t expect this,” said Ricardo.
“Maybe the Lord has a reason for this situation so that we can surpass these challenges. But I told them na we can’t make excuses. We’re here to win. That’s the bottom line.”
Ricardo cited health issues as one of the early hurdles his squad faced, with key players like Jimboy Estrada and Deo Cuajao battling illnesses.
“The team wasn’t healthy,” he explained. “So we couldn’t do anything. But we need to regroup and assess the things we need kung paano makakabawi sa next games.”
Frustration lingered in their latest loss to the Red Lions — not just from the defeat, but also from a late-game moment that didn’t sit well with Ricardo. With the game already decided, San Beda’s Janti Miller punctuated the win with a dunk in the dying seconds, a move the Letran mentor deemed unnecessary.
“He still hasn’t adjusted dito sa culture here in the Philippines,” said Ricardo.
“I guess their coaches from San Beda already talked to him. But yeah, they apologized na.”
For a coach used to competing at a high level, witnessing his team struggle serves as a reminder of the long road ahead. Yet Ricardo remains steadfast, believing that unity will pull them through.
“Not all the time na mananalo kami, but we’re being tested on how we can redeem ourselves. The hardest thing ngayon ay paano namin makukuha yung first win, and we’re hoping to get that soon,” Ricardo added.
