When Letran and Mapua clash for the third time this season, it will be on a stage which nobody, prior to the season, expected.
Flying under the radar for most of the preseason, the Knights and the Cardinals took the league by storm by clinching the second and third seeds in the final four.
Though the Knights have a slight edge given the twice-to-beat advantage, the Cardinals aren’t a team to be taken for granted, having won 10 of their last 11 games.
Personnel-wise, Mapua has the depth, the size, and the youth. Letran, on the other hand, has displayed tons of heart, hunger, and determination to go with pro-bound talents like Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal.
Who’s moving on to the Finals? Let’s take a look.
Key match-up:
Allwell Oraeme VS. THE WORLD
It’s no secret that the Cardinals’ biggest weapon is the strong, broad-shouldered Allwell Oraeme. Even the Knights would agree, no one in their line-up can straight up match with Oraeme’s height. But basketball is a team game, and Letran has a strong team ethic.
The Knights will rely on the collective effort of guys like Jom Sollano, Felix Apreku, Rey Publico, and at times, Kevin Racal and Bong Quinto to try and stop the Mapuan juggernaut. They have succeeded in the past in taking out bigger opponents through ball denial and quick doubles.
If they can somehow limit Oraeme while getting baskets of their own, the job is half done for the Knights.
X-Factors
Mapua: Mark Braña
The Letran defense will focus on stopping Oraeme. This gives Mark Braña the leeway to move freely and get his points whether on offensive boards or by efficient movement without the ball. It was expected of Braña to provide solid numbers, but he has struggled with inconsistency throughout the year.
In Mapua’s run, Braña has been a quiet contributor, doing work in the background as Oraeme, Darrell Menina, and Josan Nimes took the spotlight.
At this point, the Cardinals are a Braña-explosion away from shocking the Knights.
Letran: McJour Luib
He’s usually not mentioned with the likes of Mark Cruz, Kevin Racal, and Rey Nambatac, but that doesn’t say anything about his importance to coach Aldin’s system.
As Ayo previously stated, Luib has been his stabilizer. He makes no mistakes at crunch time and is one of Letran’s best closers. He brings more to the table than people notice. He defends well, orchestrates plays, keeps the team together, and usually hits big shots.
Luib’s offense would be critical for Letran in this game. If Luib can find his shots early, Letran will be a tough team to beat.
Prediction:
It will be a game for the books. These are really good teams with rich history, proud coaches, and talented players. This will go down the wire with Letran ending the Cardinals’ run on some late game threes by Cruz and Luib.
