Almazan takes blame, vows to propel Knights

MANILA, Philippines - Pro-bound Raymond Almazan owned up to Letran’s Game One loss to San Beda last Monday and vowed to do what he had failed to do the last time out.

Shackle Ola Adeogun.

“I blame myself for our Game One loss,” said Almazan in Filipino moments after his Knights absorbed a 68-80 defeat at the hands of Adeogun and the Lions in the opener of their best-of-three series for the 89th NCAA men’s basketball crown at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“I should have doubled, maybe tripled my effort in stopping Ola, he really killed us, especially in the second half,” added Almazan.

The 6-8 Adeogun imposed his will inside and finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds, helping key the Red Lions’ fourth quarter surge that moved them a win away from completing a four-peat.

The 6-7 Almazan, the runaway MVP this year, also dished out a double-double job of 16 points and 10 boards with three shot blocks to boot. But the incoming Rain or Shine Elasto Painter struggled in the final quarter and was himself limited to just two points, enabling the Lions to break away.

“We hope to learn from this Game One defeat, we will try to make adjustments in Game Two and I hope I could help slow down Ola,” said Almazan, set to receive his first-ever MVP trophy at halftime of Game Two Thursday, also at the MOA Arena.

But Letran coach Caloy Garcia said their loss wasn’t anyone’s fault.

“We just totally collapsed in the fourth quarter, plain and simple,” said Garcia.

The Knights’ fate will indeed hinge on how Almazan will fare not just on the defensive end but in offense as well.

When the wiry Almazan was shut down the whole of the first half, the Muralla-based dribblers trailed the Lions, 24-26, at the break.

But Almazan responded by unloading 14 points in the third and Letran seized a 53-47 lead heading to the fourth.

But as Almazan faltered in the stretch, so did the Knights.

“Basketball is a team game and we will really need a collective effort to have a chance against them in Game Two,” said Garcia. “But it will help the team a lot of we can get Raymond to come up with a great game.”