Colegio de San Juan de Letrán Head Coach Allen Ricardo isn’t ashamed of what his team has accomplished in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament despite getting swept in finals by the hands of San Beda University last December 13 at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Proud of his Boys Considering a 0-3 Record from the Start
In the postgame interview, Rebanse asked the rookie Head Coach in the NCAA Seniors division what went wrong in the middle of the third quarter until the final buzzer, considering it was a close 1st half.
Coach Allen responded that he is proud of what his team has accomplished, considering they started Season 101 with three straight losses.
“Sayang lang kasi, it was almost kase it was 69 – 73 [in the third quarter] I guess, so hindi lang nahulog yung tira ni Kevin [Santos] so but unfortunately… I am still proud of what we have achieved. From 0-3 going into this championship and siyempre ito sa akin at sa mga bata, bago ito but gagawin namin itong motivation heading to Season 102.”
Not a Bad Performance for Allen Ricardo’s Year 2
Coach Allen Ricardo has previously won two championships in the NCAA Juniors basketball division, leading the Letrán Squires in clinching back-to-back titles in Season 98 and 99.
Back in Season 100, he made his Seniors Coaching debut for the Letrán Knights but failed to make it to the Final Four as they only claimed the 6th place.
“I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the coaches. You know, the players. I’m proud of what we have achieved and nothing to be ashamed [of] kase I mean, ang akala nila for a 0-3 [record] hindi na kami aabot dito sa stage na ‘to.”
With a close Final Four appearance in Year 1 and a Finals stint in Year 2, there’s no denying that Ricardo’s resume in the seniors division is continuously improving.
First Finals Series Loss will be used as a Learning Experience
Every once in a while, everyone must know what it feels like to lose.
And when asked how he felt about losing, he said that it’s a painful loss, but he will use this as a “learning experience” come Season 102 and moving forward.
“Well of course ok na hindi ok. I’m just trying to be ok pero hindi ok tong talo na ‘to. So it is a painful loss but again, gagawin ko tong motivation para mas trabahuhin pa yung dapat trabahuhin.”
In his entire coaching career, this is the first time that Coach Allen has lost a finals series.
Letrán Knights Season 101 Performance? Overachiever
The 39-year-old then further emphasized that for him, Season 101 of Letrán can still be labeled as an “Overachiever” considering that in Season 100, they only had a 6th place finish.
“I guess we overachieved, for me. Kase last year, we’re sixth place and then this year [we’re] runners up. So somehow it was a good experience for me and the team.”
Expectations for Manalili-Santos-Estrada in Season 102
Come Season 102, the trio of Titing Manalili, Jimboy Estrada, and Kevin Santos will run it back for the Letránistas.
And according to Coach Allen, despite the finals loss, he has belief in his boys that this “new painful feeling” for them can fuel them come next year.
“Again bago nga sa kanila ito, itong championship [series], so ang laking bagay nito going to next year kase masakit eh, masakit.”
Titing, despite getting swept, was able to bag multiple awards in the awarding ceremony before Game 2 began. The 21-year-old won the awards of Freshman Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Mythical Five.
Credit to Head Coach Yuri Escueta and the rest of San Beda University
Coach Allen finished off his postgame interview acknowledging the winning team, San Beda University, and their Head Coach, Yuri Escueta.
“But I want to acknowledge Coach Yuri and the San Beda, they really really did a great job this championship series so… kumbaga I’ve learned from it.”
