Letran Coach Accepts Responsibility After Game 1 NCAA Finals Defeat to San Beda

MANILA, Philippines – The Letran Knights’ head coach Allen Ricardo publicly accepted responsibility for the bold decision to start third-string players in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball finals against the San Beda Red Lions on Wednesday, December 10.

Following a tough 89-70 loss, Ricardo reflected on the gamble, emphasizing his trust in the players despite the outcome. He stated in Filipino, "We, of course, felt the regret, but at least, the players know that I have full trust in them." He added, "Again, it’s all about the trust, trust, trust, trust. I have full faith in my players, it just so happens that they were not familiar with that kind of setup, but that happens, so I take it as a man."

The decision to begin with third-string players, a tactic Ricardo often used during his high school coaching career, backfired early as San Beda surged ahead to a 22-9 lead. Although the Knights managed to narrow the gap to 46-43 by halftime, they were outperformed in the third quarter, conceding 22-5.

Letran faced a deficit of up to 22 points and also lost point guard Titing Manalili to foul trouble. San Beda's dominant lead remained unchallenged, securing their Game 1 victory.

Looking ahead to Game 2 scheduled for Saturday, December 13, Letran may benefit from the likely absence of San Beda rookie star Janti Miller, who averages 20 points per game and faces suspension.

Ricardo expressed confidence in his team's resilience and ability to adapt, saying, "I know my players have enough grit, it’s just a matter of studying [the game strategy] well. We need to relearn our purpose, impact, and consequence, so we will have a better chance to bounce back…we need to get Game 2 regardless."