NCAA repeat, target ng La Salle Greenies

KUMPIYANSA si coach Marvin Bienvenida sa kampanya ng La Salle Greenhills na mapanatili ang korona sa pagsabak sa National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 94 Junior basketball tournament.

Ayon sa 37- anyos na si Bienvenida, handa ang Saint Benilde-La Salle Greenhills Baby Blazers bunsod na rin ng pagsabak sa Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) at Got Skills tournament bilang bahagi ng kanilang preparasyon.

“We are expecting Season 94 to be tougher and more difficult that’s why we joined season tournament like PSSBC and then next year the Got Skills tournament. Right now, we are competing in the MMBL (Metro Manila Basketball League) and we’re 2-1 there,” pahayag ni Bienvenida, alumnus ng La Salle Greenhills batch 1998.

“I’m testing also some of the players here in these tournaments prior to the formation of the pool next year.”

Matapos ang pre- aseason tournaments, sinabi ng dating University of the Philippines (UP) guard na pipiliin niya ang bubuo sa koponan para sa NCAA. Ilan players mula sa Team B ang inaasahang pupunan sa pagkawala ng mga graduate players tulad nina Jacob Lao, Joshua Marcos, JM Pedrosa, Kairl Beljica at Albert Boldeos.

Muli, pangungunahan nina Joel Cagulangan at Josh David ang koponan kasama sina Jared Lao, Inand Fornilos, Nikki Perez, Sidney Masqueda, Diego Morales, Joshua Dela Cruz, 6-foot-9 Ladis Lepalam at Mark Daniel Sangco.

“Last season, we were ranked No. 7 but now we’re expecting Season 94 to be tighter in terms of the competition that’s why we really need to prepare seriously,” sambit ni Bienvenida, nakamit ang kampeonato sa NCAA sa unang pagkakataon mula noong 1998.

Matapos ang 11-7 marka sa elimination, nagawang masibak ng La Salle Greenhill sang San Sebastián sa playoff round, bago sinibak ang multi-titled San Beda High School sa semifinal.

Sa Finals, nakuha ng La Salle Greenhills ang Game 1, ngunit naipuwersa ng Mapua ang do-or-die na naisalba ng Greenies.

“The players wil cherish this unforgettable experience forever. But now, we have to prepare for another chapter — our title defense — next season,” pahayag ni Bienvenida.