NCAA 94 analysis: Letran and CSB

MANILA, Philippines – We are in the homestretch of the men’s basketball tourney for NCAA Season 94. We’ll take a look at two teams — the 11-4 Letran Knights and the 8-7 College of St. Benilde Blazers.

Is this another miracle finish for Letran?

The Letran Knights and the Lyceum Pirates have played a couple of matches that went down to the wire in this elimination round of NCAA Season 94. It was honorable that LPU head coach Topex Robinson opted not to file a protest when a Jaycee Marcelino triple was downgraded to a two-pointer in the dying seconds of the match. I get it as LPU had two chances to still win it but didn’t. 

Are the Letran Knights in for a miracle season? They are no doubt in the hunt for a title even without Jerrick Balanza, who is out after brain surgery. What makes them dangerous is they have a balanced line-up of inside-outside players. The addition of Larry Muyang and Christian Fajarito has given head coach Jeff Napa a solid inside presence. Although Fajarito struggled in the game versus Lyceum, Muyang was a handful as he finished with an incredible 23 points, 16 rebounds, 4 blocks and 1 assist. 

Transferee Bonbon Batiller struggled on the offensive end, but his five assists were huge.

I like how the Knights have circled the wagons this campaign. I recall during the first round encounter with Lyceum, the Pirates Jeff Santos accidentally knocked down a Letran player. When he tried to check out on him, Bong Quinto pushed him away as if to say, “We take care of our own.”

And they do. Even Balanza was present during the win against Lyceum.

Why does Lyceum struggle against Letran when the Pirates have a deeper bench? In my opinion, they do not have that stud in the middle. You might point out to Mike Nzeusseu, but he is only the center by default. He is a natural three; hence, him preferring to play the outside and face up to the basket. Whereas Muyang makes his living inside. 

So why does Lyceum play San Beda well when they have Donald Tankoua? Tankoua is another player playing out of position. He is undersized even for a center. When Lyceum and San Beda face each other it is a battle by the guards and the forwards with the foreign players also providing some punch. 

If Letran has that potent inside-outside combo, why is it San Beda is able to take them down? This one is easy. San Beda does not want to lose to Letran. They do not. And vice versa. Do you need more motivation?

I will say this though, whoever faces Letran in the Final Four, watch out. These guys are on a mission and can crash everyone’s pre-season prognosis of Lyceum-San Beda for the second straight year.

How about the College of St. Benilde? What’s up with them?

It is a question about maturity and talent. CSB has some amazing talent in Justin Gutang, Yankie Haruna and Edward Dixon. They have a serviceable foreign player in Clement Leutcheu. 

Is it maturity? Also, but Dixon, Haruna, and Leutcheu aren’t young players. They are veterans. 

I will instead point to three things:

One, I think it is the play of Unique Naboa that has also affected this team. He is shooting rather poor from 3-point range (16.7 percent) and hasn’t gone to the line much (like twice per match). Leading up to the NCAA Season 94, he was shooting 31 percent from beyond the arc and getting to the free throw line. When Naboa was balling, hitting shots, and showing a lot of swag, the rest of the team followed. With his struggles, the team has followed suit, hence, an 8-7 record (imagine if San Sebastian did not forfeit their first round match).

Two, I also think that at times, Gutang – a terrific talent who is a game changer – has been forcing the issue instead of letting the game come to him. He is the team’s best assist maker with 63 as of today (good for fifth in the league), but sometimes, I think guys like Haruna and Dixon should show the way.

And three, those turnovers are killing them. 

They are second worst in the league with 21 errors per match and as a result, they allow the second worst in turnover points allowed with 16 per match. 

The Blazers need to be patient. They will even be better next season with all this experience that they are soaking.