LETRAN head coach Allen Ricardo faced the NCAA reporters in the Smart Araneta Coliseum tunnel for one last time in the Season 101 basketball tournament, carrying the pain of being swept in the finals by rivals San Beda no less.
As he was cornered on one end of the tunnel by beat writers who may have him relive the pain of the loss by asking him the necessary questions on what went down, across him in the narrow hall was San Beda’s dugout – the team’s raucous celebration resonating across the hall in what seems like one final cruel reminder, the last twist of the knife so to speak, to Ricardo of the heartbreak right before he leaves the venue.
READ: Undeniable San Beda sweeps Letran to win NCAA title number 24
His voice, as he graciously answered reporters amid the loss and the deafening San Beda celebration across him, was a soft contrast to the exultant mood around him.
But he knows he can’t sulk in defeat. He knows now, more than ever, he has to carry on for his team.
“Of course, I’m okay na hindi okay. I'm just trying to be okay,” Ricardo admitted.
“Hindi okay itong talo na ito. So, it is a painful loss. But again, gagawin ko itong motivation para mas trabahuhin pa yung dapat trabahuhin.”
From the onset, the Red Lions were simply a step ahead of their rivals, a series which started with a gamble on Ricardo’s end by fielding in his bench players to start Game 1.
As that gamble backfired, Ricardo went back to his usual starters come Game 2 and were pretty much controlling the game in the first half before another big second half from San Beda turned the tide once more.
Letran got to within four with less than three minutes in the game, but the Red Lions simply had too much poise and experience in the end game.
“I want to acknowledge coach Yuri and San Beda. They really did a great job in this championship series. I learned from it,” Ricardo stated.
“Sayang lang. Almost, kasi that was 69-73, I guess. So, hindi lang nahulog yung tira ni Kevin unfortunately. I'm still proud of what we achieved from 0-3, going to this championship.”
It may have been a bitter pill to swallow, but he knows that this is a necessary step for him and his boys moving forward – especially with a still solid core of NCAA Rookie of the Year and MVP runner-up Titing Manalili, Jimboy Estrada and Kevin Santos all still eligible to return next year.
READ: No regrets for Titing after magical season ends in heartbreak
“Bago sa kanila to, itong championship. Ang laking bagay nito going into next year kasi masakit e.”
Despite the disappointment of losing in his first ever finals appearance in college, Ricardo remains proud of how far the team went while promising that they will bounce back better than ever come Season 102.
“I guess we overachieved. Last year we’re at sixth place and then this year, we’re runners up. It’s a good experience for me and the team,” he said.
“I'm proud of them. I'm proud of the coaches. I'm proud of the players, [I’m proud of] what we achieved. [We have] nothing to be ashamed kasi, I mean, akala nila we're 0-3. Hindi na kami aabot dito sa stage na to,” he continued.
“Gagawin naming motivation itong pagkatalo na’to come next season.”
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