At the end of the first round of NCAA Season 99, Colegio de San Juan de Letran found itself in unfamiliar territory.
After winning a title just a year before, the Knights faced a disappointing reality with only one victory in the first round of their championship defense.
They appeared helpless against the retooled NCAA squads and were positioned at the bottom of the standings – the worst-ever finish for a defending champion in the league’s Final Four era.
However, this season has seen first-year head coach Allen Ricardo engineer a remarkable turnaround, restoring Letran to its once-dominant form.
The Red and Blue are displaying resilience and cohesion, showing no signs of slowing down.
Following a decisive 78-66 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University, Letran finished the first round firmly at the upper echelon of the standings with a commendable 6-3 record.
They sit alongside perennial contenders such as College of Saint Benilde, Mapua University, and reigning champions San Beda University.
For Ricardo, the Knights’ swift revival from their nightmarish Season 99 run stemmed not from tactical changes, but from a significant shift in the team’s attitude.
He emphasized that fostering a positive mindset was crucial to their success.
“Sa akin, sinumula ko lang sa pag-uugali. Kasi yung mga techniques, lahat ng basketball coaches ang gagaling. Aral na aral. In terms of X’s and O’s, naniniwala ako malalim yung kaalaman nila,” he remarked.
“Sa akin lang as a coach, ang natutunan ko ang kailangan tama ang paguugali ng mga player mo. Dapat yung disiplina, yung respeto, dapat lagi nandoon. And then yung commitment also.”
As a decorated tactician in the juniors division, Ricardo quickly observed the differences in mentality between his high school players and those at the college level.
“Kasi sa college basketball, masyadong, I guess, na-overwhelm sila pag nandiyan na sa stage na iyan eh. Parang feeling nila porket nandoon na sila sa level two, alam ko na lahat, which is hindi dapat,” he explained.
This “know-it-all” mentality was the first thing Ricardo aimed to dismantle when he took over the program. Regardless of talent, every player needed an open mind to thrive in Ricardo’s Letran Knights.
“Dapat empty your cup. Yun yung lagi kong sinasabi sa mga bata. Hindi porquet nandito kayo sa college ranks akala niyo alam niyo na ang lahat. Always start from zero to nothing. We’ll take it one game at a time, intindihin natin yung mga ginagawa,” the first-year Knights head coach emphasized.
In addition to fostering open-mindedness, Ricardo implemented several team-building practices that reinforced unity.
The players now eat together, establishing a bond that transcends the court.
A pre-game ritual was introduced, where the team gathers in a circle, raising their hands before tip-off, which fosters a sense of camaraderie.
Furthermore, the adoption of platoon substitutions has allowed for seamless teamwork and communication during games.
With his pool of talent for Season 100, Ricardo found that instilling these values in his players was a relatively easy task.
“Doon sa mga bata na ito, I really appreciate them because they know the values, good values and principles in life, which is nadadala nila ngayon sa basketball court. Kaya medyo hindi na kami ganoong ka-shaky,” he remarked.
On the court, the values that Ricardo preached quickly translated into success, as the Knights have already tripled their wins from Season 99 in just one round of the NCAA’s centennial year.
While the progress is commendable, the Knights understand that they have a whole other round to navigate before they can return to the peaks they once enjoyed.
With the right mindset and commitment, Letran is poised for further success as the season unfolds.
