The defending NCAA champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights were pegged as a pre-season Final Four contender by most pundits and fans alike.
However, what tends to be forgotten in Letran’s narrative going into the season is that the Knights lost two pivotal pieces, Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz. Moreover, Letran’s cruel off-season started with the departure of now-La Salle head coach Aldin Ayo and the school was only able to tap the services of multi-titled juniors head coach Jeff Napa three months prior to the season.
Clearly, the deck was stacked against the Knights to repeat its magical Season 91 campaign.
Friday afternoon, the Letran Knights absorbed its eighth defeat of the season, virtually eliminating them from the Final Four race with two games to go.
“Definitely a lot of frustration. Eto yung hindi ko ine-expect e,” Letran head coach Jeff Napa reflected about his first year.
“I don’t want to point fingers and I’m taking full responsibility with what happened.”
The 35 year old mentor tried to make do with what was given to him all season long. But the toughness of Racal and the floor generalship of Cruz was hard to replicate. But still, the Knights persevered.
“Hindi naman rebuilding [year] pero it so happened na eto na yung nadatnan ko. Kung baga ginawan ko lang ng paraan,” he shared about the reality that he faced when he took the mantle as Letran head coach.
“Next year it will be a different story.”
With just two games remaining, Napa plans to seek for improvements, as a team and for himself, that he could utilize going into the next season.
“Iniisip na lang namin how to improve pa e, lalo pa kung sino pa ang maiiwan,” he furthered. “This year I didn’t get a full season para mahawakan yung team. Hopefully, mabago namin yung mga pagkakamali namin next season.”
However, with five graduating players, the off-season will be another tough one for the cagers from Muralla Street.
“Five [graduating players] ata e kaya medyo mabigat. Kukulangin kami ng firepower kaya patch up, patch up lang,” he closed.
“But I’m still happy for the boys na nandirito despite sa adversities na pinagdadaanan namin.”
