BONG Quinto sees similarities between the 2019 Letran team and the 2015 squad that last won an NCAA championship for the school.
Quinto was one of the members of the 2015 team coached by Aldin Ayo in which the Knights claimed the crown by outlasting San Beda in a thrilling championship series.
Now on the outside looking in being a player of Meralco in the PBA, Quinto said there is some shades of their squad on this year’s team that is vying for an NCAA crown against San Beda.
“Basta sa Letran, doon talaga, lahat pantay pantay ng opportunity. ‘Yun din nakita ko nung 2015 at nakikita ko ngayon,” said Quinto, days after the Knights and the Red Lions begin their finals series.
The depth of the team did show several years later as Quinto, along with the likes of Rey Nambatac, JP Calvo, and Kevin Racal already in the PBA.
Unlike in 2015 though where the two teams had an even record at the end of the eliminations, the Red Lions are seen as the overwhelming favorite to win the crown, having won all 18 games in the regular season.
Quinto acknowledged that the Knights are the underdogs for the series. Only Jerrick Balanza and Christian Balagasay are the remnants from that championship team in 2015.
The Meralco cager, though, said beating San Beda is doable despite going 18-0 in the eliminations, having already talked to the veterans of the team led by Balanza, who was still a rookie in 2015.
“Nagkausap nga kami ni Jerick last time, sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Bro, kailangan natin mauna sa kanila kasi San Beda ‘yan. Alam natin kung paano mag-close out ng game ‘yan,” said Quinto.
Quinto added the back-to-back games Letran played during the stepladder round will beneficial to the Knights in using that momentum for the championship series.
“Ngayon, nasa atin ‘yung momentum kasi sila, dere-derecho naglaro, San Beda, nagpahinga pa sila. For me, malaking opportunity at chance ‘yan na makauna, wag lang talaga nila papormahin ‘yung San Beda,” said Quinto.
Quinto said Letran coach Bonnie Tan has to be given a lot of credit for believing in the talents of each player with the Knights.
“Halos lahat ginagamit which is the same nung 2015. Halos lahat kami ginagamit. ‘Yung equality and opportunity na binibigay nila coach Bonnie sa bawat isa, ‘yung ang nagbibigay ng lakas para makapaglaro ng maayos ‘yung mga players. Importante kasi ‘yung buio ang tiwala ng coach sa player,” said Quinto.
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