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Letran 'needs to experience this painful loss,' says coach

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/news/10/04/coach-2017.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Letran coach Jeff Napa. Arvin Lim, <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Even as he rued his team&#x27;s missed free throws and questionable decisions, Colegio de San Juan de Letran coach Jeff Napa is already looking forward to the future in the aftermath of the Knights&#x27; exit in the NCAA Season 93 tournament.A 74-69 setback to San Sebastian College on Tuesday spelled the end of the Knights&#x27; campaign, as they failed to make it to the semifinals for the second season in a row.It was a sorry loss for Letran, which has won back-to-back do-or-die games to force Tuesday&#x27;s knockout contest.&quot;Mahirap manalo ng may 15 missed free throws,&quot; rued Napa, who is in his second season of coaching the Knights. &quot;Ang daming crucial stops na hindi na-execute. That&#x27;s why siguro ganoon &#x27;yung turn-around.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2017/10/24/calisaan-erupts-36-baste-enters-final-four-32679">READ: Calisaan erupts for 36 as Baste enters Final Four again</a></li></ul>The Knights led by as much as nine points in the third period, but fell apart midway through due in part to some careless turnovers. Shockingly, veteran guard Rey Nambatac was responsible for two of those miscues that allowed the Golden Stags to work their way back into the game.&quot;Pagpalit ng tao, nag-change ng complexion. Hindi ko naman na-call &#x27;yan eh. May mga unnecessary na nangyari. Nagkaroon tuloy ng momentum ang kalaban,&quot; said Napa.Despite those errors in the third frame, the Knights still had their chances to win the game. They even led by four, 60-56, with 8:23 left off Nambatac&#x27;s three-pointer. But San Sebastian simply out-executed them in crunch time, with Ryan Costelo repeatedly cutting through the heart of their defense for floaters.Their last chance to take the lead fell short, when Jeo Ambohot&#x27;s open triple hit the rim, paving the way for Michael Calisaan&#x27;s dagger three-pointer with 18.3 seconds left to play.&quot;Good shot,&quot; Napa said of Ambohot&#x27;s attempt. &quot;Pero libre si Toto (JP Calvo). Kung ako, I&#x27;d rather take the shot from our best guard.&quot;He refused to blame his players, simply saying that he respected the decision they made.&quot;Call ng players &#x27;yun. Kung ako &#x27;yung player, &#x27;yun ang gagawin ko. Call pa rin nila &#x27;yun,&quot; Napa said. &quot;They decide the game, at binigay ko naman sa kanila.&quot;It was undoubtedly a painful end to the season for the Knights, who had aspirations of making the Final Four in Season 93 after barely missing the semis last year. Unfortunately for Letran, they started their campaign on a brutal note – losing three of their first four games, including a shock loss to cellar-dwelling Mapua University.Napa acknowledged that pre-season drama played a major factor in that poor start.&quot;Ang dami lang nangyari talaga nung early season namin, madaming telenobelang nangyari at &#x27;yun ang nagpa-suffer sa amin. Nagpabigat kaya kami nalagay sa ganitong sitwasyon,&quot; he said, referring to the alleged transfer of two of their key players – Calvo and Bong Quinto – to De La Salle University that shocked Letran just three days before the NCAA opened.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/ncaa/news/2017/07/07/calvo-staying-letran-dito-ang-puso-ko-28317">FULL STORY: Calvo on staying in Letran: ‘Dito ang puso ko’</a></li></ul>&quot;Pero hindi ko tinitignan as an excuse &#x27;yan. Iniisip ko rin na kaya &#x27;yan nangyari para tumatag din kami, para umabot kami sa ganitoing sitwasyon. It just so happened na dito nagtatapos ang season namin,&quot; Napa added.Ultimately, Napa is looking at their disappointing campaign on a positive note.&quot;We need to experience this painful loss, para coming next year we’ll be coming back stronger, with a pool of players na talagang quality players,&quot; he said.Letran will only lose Nambatac to graduation. They are set to welcome a talented group of players next year, including key transferees Christian Fajarito, Bonbon Batiller, and Larry Muyang. (For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Even as he rued his team's missed free throws and questionable decisions, Letran coach Jeff Napa is already looking forward to the future in the aftermath of the Knights' exit in the NCAA Season 93 tournament.

Even as he rued his team's missed free throws and questionable decisions, Letran coach Jeff Napa is already looking forward to the future in the aftermath of the Knights' exit in the NCAA Season 93 tournament.

Letran 'needs to experience this painful loss,' says coach

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Letran 'needs to experience this painful loss,' says coach

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 25, 2017 01:22 PM PHT

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