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Ola Adeogun could be the man of the hour in the NCAA Finals. (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
HERE comes the Last Dance! Letran and San Beda clashes anew for the bragging rights of becoming the NCAA champion.
So what plot will take place in the latest chapter in the so-called NCAA "Clasico"?
History: This is the third time in four years that both the Knights and the Red Lions collide in the NCAA Finals. San Beda won the first two and would win another one last year against Arellano.
San Beda is actually on a five-season championship streak, and two more wins could give the team a rare six-peat.
What Now: San Beda beat Letran in 2012 and 2013 despite having the likes of Raymond Almazan and Kevin Alas. Many thought the Red Lions, who still have a star-studded core with Ola Adeogun, Baser Amer, and Arth Dela Cruz, will easily get the better of a now not-so-star-studded, small ball Knights.
Lo and behold, Letran, with PBA draftees Mark Cruz and Kevin Racal, blew out San Beda in their first meeting. Although San Beda would win the other two match-ups, those games were close to call.
Both the Red Lions and the Knights ousted the JRU Heavy Bombers and the Mapua Cardinals respectively in the Final Four.
Key Match-Up: Ola Adeogun vs. Jom Sollano, Rey Publico, and Felix Apreku-If there is one weakness in Letran's small-ball "House of Chaos" that San Beda exploited, it is the fact that Letran is small! Adeogun, being the dominant center that he is, used his height and might in San Beda's two wins over Letran this season.
It may seem like Adeogun will pose a mismatch against either Jom Sollano, Rey Publico, and Felix Apreku, but the three have somewhat held their ground against Adeogun especially that the help defense provided by Cruz and Rey Nambatac have been effective as well.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno