Published October 6, 2025 4:05pm
Updated October 6, 2025 4:05pm
NCAA Season 101. Letran Knights vs. San Beda Red Lions, October 5, 2025. Photo: Thomas Villanueva
The losses may be piling up early, but Letran coach Allen Ricardo is not losing faith.
The Knights absorbed back-to-back losses to Jose Rizal University and rival San Beda University to start 0-2 in Group B of the NCAA Season 101, raising questions about whether their preseason billing as title contenders still holds.
But the sophomore coach remained optimistic, saying these early setbacks could benefit the Knights in the long run.
“Again, I try to manage the team, syempre alam ko naman na 0-2 na but I’m still optimistic na babalik tayo, makakaisa tayo, and from there, ‘pag nakuha na ‘yung isang panalo medyo makakabuwelo na,” Ricardo said following their 68-58 loss to the Red Lions on Sunday.
(Again, I try to manage the team. Of course, I know we’re now 0-2 but I’m still optimistic we’ll bounce back, we’ll come together, and from there, when we get that one win, we can build on it.)
According to Ricardo, the Knights have been battling several health concerns, including cases of food poisoning that sidelined key players. Deo Cuajao and Alex Gazzingan sat out the opener against JRU, while Jimboy Estrada played sick in their loss to San Beda.
Top recruit Jun Roque is also recovering from a shoulder injury, further depleting Letran’s rotation.
But Ricardo isn’t using these as excuses, saying they simply have to deal with what they have and keep finding ways to compete.
“Ang bigat kasi nu’ng nangyari last week kasi medyo on and off ‘yung mga bata. We had an early dinner so kinabukasan, sumama ‘yung tiyan ng mga bata,” he added.
“‘Yung iba nagkasakit. I don’t want to make that as an excuse but medyo hindi healthy ‘yung team. Eh wala naman kaming magagawa kung sino ‘yung maglalaro.”
(What happened last week was pretty heavy because the players are on and off. We had an early dinner and the next day, the players had problems with their stomachs. Some of them got sick. I don’t want to make that as an excuse but the team isn’t that healthy. But we can’t do anything about how can play.)
Ricardo is hoping the Knights can quickly put the two losses in the past and move forward, especially with their tough schedule ahead as they take on Benilde on Wednesday then EAC on Saturday.
Ricardo believes the Knights just need one win to build momentum and turn their season around.
“We stick together as one kasi hindi naman sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay sa panalo lang tayo sama-sama. So siguro tine-test din kami ni Lord ng mga ganitong challenges, losing end, kung paano namin mare-redeem ‘yung sarili namin,” Ricardo said.
“‘Yun talaga ‘yung pinakamahirap kunin, ‘yung first win. And we’re hoping na makuha na namin ‘yun sa next games namin.”
(We stick together as one because we can’t only be together when we win. I guess the Lord is also testing us with challenges, losing end, and how we can redeem ourselves. That really is the hardest to get, the first win. And we’re hoping we get that in our next games.)
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
