MARK Cruz admitted it was tough watching Letran from the sidelines in the crucial juncture of the team’s 70-74 loss to Lyceum in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Friday.
The Knights star point guard finished the game in an unlikely place — on the bench — after coach Caloy Garcia replaced him following two costly errors halfway through the fourth period when the team was mounting a rally
“Sobrang hirap for me, kasi gusto ko ako yung andun, ako yung tumulong at ako yung gumawa ng paraan para manalo, makahabol,” Cruz said in a chat with Spin.ph.
“Pero desisyon ni coach yun, so I respect that,” he was quick to add. “Mali ko naman.”
“Medyo malambot yung game ko,” the fourth-year playmaker admitted.
Cruz, who posted a measly six points and five assists in 24 minutes, also made a bad pass that led to an error and sealed their 83-85 opening-day loss to San Sebastian.
Now, the Knights (0-2) are off to their worst start since 2010 when they also dropped their first two assignments. It was the last year they missed the Final Four.
“I think hindi pa kami team talaga na buo,” Cruz admitted. “Hindi pa kami as one. We’ll work on that. And our defense is the problem, pati yung rebounding.”
The Pirates shot 40 percent from the field and outrebounded the Knights, 48-35.
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