Lateran Knights in NCAA Season 97. NCAA / GMA photo
The last time the NCAA hosted a basketball tournament, they fought for the crown. It looks like defending champion Latran and fierce rival San Beda are in it again.
The two teams are crammed into the championship tradition, with a combined 40 titles, crowding each other at the top of the standings after separate wins at the Greenhills Gym in La Salle on Wednesday, and are looking forward to every inch of season 97 men’s basketball competition.
The Knights narrowed their path and lost to Arelano Chiffs, 96-67, in a game where big man Geo Ambohot exploded for 20 points and plunged Latron into the role of team to beat firmly this year.
Just don’t say that to coach Bonnie Tan, who thinks teams have made a lot of space since the Knights ruled the league.
“We were champions, but it was already two years ago,” he said after the game. “It’s another season, we have to work harder if we want to save [the crown]”
Especially with the hungry pride lurking around.
The Red Lions leaned on their second stringer JV Gallego and Filipino-Canadian James Quয়েকquez to stop stubborn Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, 85-81.
San Beda coach Bayet Fernandez said: “We did not take them lightly because they are a dangerous team based on their game against Mapua.
The Lions, the irresistible favorites, could not cut loose from the generals until Kwekuteye began to shake things up early in the third quarter.
The Knight and the Red Lion will finally cross the path on April 12th.
The 6-foot-7 Ambohot, a holdover center of the Champion Knights squad, had eight rebounds and three assists during his breakout game as the Knights were able to change their list against the Lame Chiefs.
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