The Letran Squires have the opportunity of ending a 22-year championship drought on Thursday as they battle the College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills Greenies in the National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors’ basketball finals at the San Andres Sports Complex.
The Squires took Game 1, 85-81, to move to within a win shy of capturing their first NCAA juniors’ basketball title since 2001.
They brace for a big Greenies’ fightback in their 2:30 p.m. match.
“Masaya kami pero hindi pa tapos ang championship,” said Andy Gemao, the 16-year-old prolific guard who finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, five assists and three steals in the opener.
“Marami po kaming lessons na napulot sa laro ngayon. Tulad po ng kung paano po kami maging composed sa maraming crowd kasi lahat po kami rookie,” added Gemao.
LSGH bigs Luis Pablo and Seven Gagate will still be Letran’s main cause for concern.
“Inaabangan ko po talaga ‘yung twin towers nila,” said Gemao. “Siguro po may gagawin silang adjustments. Nasa amin na din po iyon kung paano namin hihigpitan ‘yung depensa namin.”
Pablo and Gagate posted double-double outings in Game 1, as the Squires are looking for clues on how to limit the Greenies’ frontline to wrap up the best-of-three series.
Syrex Silorio, Letran’s big man who was huge with 27 points and seven rebounds, knows that it will be tough Game 2 if Pablo and Gagate continue to produce massive numbers for LSGH to save its season.
Game 3, if necessary, is set on Monday.