LETRAN picked the perfect time to peak, but can it finish the job?
That's the question it has to answer when it goes for another go-round with San Beda in Game Two of the NCAA Season 95 seniors' basketball Finals Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
The Knights drew first blood with a 65-64 win on Tuesday, ending the Red Lions' erstwhile immaculate run and also moving a win away from the crown.
But as much as the edge is now on Letran's court, coach Bonnie Tan reminded his wards that leading 1-0 in the best-of-three series won't win it the trophy just yet.
"Sana lang huwag maging overconfident ang mga players natin although we have the advantage," the soft-spoken mentor.
Fran Yu has been the catalyst of the Knights attack as he has emerged as an unlikely threat to join leaders Jerrick Balanza, Bonbon Batiller, and Larry Muyang.
And if they can sustain what they did in Game One in the 4 p.m. duel, the championship might just head back to Muralla for the first time since 2015.
"Sana maging focused sila and finish what they started. Yun lang ma-advise ko sila," said Tan. "Oo masaya tayo pero huwag sobra. Not too high, not too low."
San Beda, on the other hand, is on the edge of its seat with coach Boyet Fernandez hardpressed to devise a counter and keep its four-peat quest alive.
Season MVP Calvin Oftana and fellow Mythical Team players Evan Nelle and James Canlas, as well as Best Foreign Player Donald Tankoua will be feted before the game, but there's a bigger war that these Red Lions have to focus on than receiving their honors.
The young crew's resolve and capability hasn't been tested all season long, making it an uneasy situation for the decorated mentor on what kind of team he'll have come Friday.
"It's a matter of the players' conviction that they can make our plays. This team is very young and this is the Finals, and maybe, having a perfect slate caught up with them probably. But this serves as a lesson for us and we are looking forward to have a fresh mind and be ready on Friday," Fernandez said.
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