Okay, that doesn’t sound like a sports commentary title. More like a console-oriented shooter game right? In a sense, I’m entering a figurative warzone on Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena. Two storied rivals in the last game of the season. Nothing much is on the line. Except maybe a banner, a huge trophy, and added tally to the silverware. And bragging rights, of course, bragging rights.
Welcome to the NCAA folks. And yes, the hashtag #HindiPaTaposAngNCAA will now be forgotten in the annals of Twitter history. No longer will we have to kid around with our fellow sports writers that after everything has been said and done, guess what, #HindiPaTaposAngNCAA! The league will finally crown a champion. Whether it will be a two-banner lead (San Beda) or a tying victory (Letran), it will be one hell of a showdown.
Load the cannons.
Clean the scopes.
Empty the artillery.
Both teams will be shouting “Today, we cancel the Apocalypse!†as said by Idris Elba in Pacific Rim. Okay that may be a stretch. But still, all or nothing. Win or go home. A basketball player’s dream situation, especially for a graduating senior who has soldiered on for his team, is to be in this moment.
Letran pulled off the win and got all the checkmarks required regarding our last keys for them to win the game (insert previous article). More importantly, they’re back in Game 3 to exorcise ghosts of the past, most notably that nightmarish shellacking they received where they failed to score 40 points the whole game. For the Red Lions, they got checked heavily and must regain their form. But how do they stack up? Where was it crucial for both teams?
Here’s our look on what each team needs to stand victorious when the smoke clears on Saturday (we’re just extrapolating using the facts in front of us and how we know the game.):
Bench Scoring
In Game One, the Red Lions’ bench mob feasted on their Letran prey. The Semerads, Ludovice, Abarcar and Kyle Pascual blasted Luib, Belorio, Gabawan, Tambeling and Castro to kingdom come via a 37 to 12 production off the pine. In Game Two, the Knights allowed 23 bench, points but the positive here is that everybody shook off their jitters and managed to score 21. Tambeling rediscovered his mojo while Luib superbly kept his head in the game and did not want a shot at Shaqtin’ A Fool-like infamy. For Game Three, this might be the biggest factor since whoever slows down the opposing bench and providing the necessary push in the back for the starters will definitely win the crown of NCAA 89.
Foul Management
This is what did the Red Lions in. Coming into the game, you should know that the refs will be calling it tight. It’s the Finals. Yes, ticky-tack calls will always be a headache, but it is part of the game. The best you can do is avoid it. Easier said than done I know, but some of those fouls could’ve easily been let go by the guilty parties, most especially Rome and Ola. San Beda went downhill when Adeogun picked up his fourth foul. That’s like inviting a robbery in a bank. Rome followed following what should have been a good defensive stand ending in a mishap. Well, in his defense, I would be jumping at a Marvin Cruz-esque pump fake at the elbow because the little bro is as dead shot as kuya on that particular move.
On the other side of the fence, Mark Cruz has to realize that he cannot let himself get in foul trouble. Letran bit the bullet today but God knows they can’t keep on doing it. Letran needs Cruz on the floor. All the time. Not to disparage McJour Luib, but more often than not, he can’t keep his head in the game. I can’t call out Almazan on this one since man, he is dealing with a beast in Ola. You gotta hack when you gotta hack, young man.
X-Factors
Again, not wanting to sound like a Luib hater, but this guy will really tip the balance in Letran’s favor. If he keeps his head in the game, the Knight’s aren’t missing Mark Cruz’s presence. His baskets in Game Two weren’t forced. Believe it or not, they were in the flow of the offense, trey brick and all. But the passing. The basics. He did not fumble big time. Only one significant turnover to his credit and a lot of nice finds down the lane. There was no wasted possession. By the way, I did call him out for not playing like a point guard. Well, guess what bud, this time around, you did great. Now how about keeping a video of the game for yourself and watch it repeatedly before game day so you won’t forget what made you look damn good on the parquet?
For the Mendiola-based squad, Yvan Ludovice and Francis Abarcar should regain their swagger. They were totally ground in the dust. From 17 points combined, the Game Two output was reduced to six. The Semerads need not be called out. They did their share. David was finding spots on the pick and roll/pop for wide-open 18-20 footers all game long. Anthony on the other hand was stymied greatly as the Knights decided to fight through baseline run-outs preventing him from setting up shop by the corners and flanks following a combo of a baseline pick and a set of staggered screens.
At the end, I see the bench playing more of a factor down the stretch. Fouls will only be huge if the refs decide not to let a Lion or Knight play in the crucial moments of the game. The X-factors enumerated are part of the bench so how they play will dictate how the bench plays.
However, with the slimmest of margins, I still call it going for the Red Lions. I did not put one other factor into play here because championship experience for Letran is limited to Gabawan, Belorio, Cruz, Luib and Almazan. San Beda? That whole team has championship moxie on them. It’s nothing to scoff at. And somehow, somewhere, a Red Lion will explode when needed for a title. Last year, it was Anjo Caram. The campaigns before, it was Garvo Lanete (who I am still reppin’ to this day) and Borgie Hermida. This year, who knows?
So how do you see it? #RoarFor4 or #W17nessLetran?
Last game. Last four quarters. Last 40 minutes.
It is…
WAR.
Send your letters of complaint, protest, clarification and blind hate @PioVGarcia.