The First Knight can't wait to joust with Letran's latest recruits.
Letran ace guard Fran Yu says he is excited to start training with new teammates Rhenz Abando, Brent Paraiso and Ira Bataller to build chemistry early for the defending champion Knights.
Yu sees the arrival of the three as solid additions for Letran since the team is now without guards Jerrick Balanza and Bonbon Batiller, as well as backup center Christian Balagasay – all currently PBA rookies.
The 5-foot-10 Yu says, however, that recruitment is just the first step.
“Malakas sa papel pero sa training lahat mag-uumpisa,” Yu told Manila Bulletin in a message Friday.
“Excited na ako na makalaro sila, sana matuloy na talaga yung training ng mga teams.”
Abando, Paraiso and Bataller joined Letran early this week after leaving University of Santo Tomas, which is under investigation by the UAAP and the Department of Justice (DOJ) following allegations of ‘bubble’ training in Sorsogon.
READ: UAAP: Brent Paraiso set to leave UST
The government has a strict policy of ‘no practice’ since it issued a lockdown because of the coronavirus outbreak last March, but coach Aldin Ayo of UST still conducted training in his home province a few months later.
Ayo has already been suspended indefinitely by the UAAP, while UST still awaits its fate.
READ: UST formally accepts Aldin Ayo's resignation
Letran won the NCAA title last season, beating archrival San Beda in a nail-biting best-of-three showdown. Yu was adjudged Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Finals.
The three recruits met Tuesday with Letran coach Bonnie Tan and Alfrancis Chua, sports director of San Miguel Corporation (SMC), which supports the school’s basketball program.
The league’s 96th Season is expected to begin either February or March 2021, although NCAA Management Committee (MANCOM) chairman Fr. Vic Calvo of host Letran reiterated they would only start if there is already a vaccine against COVID-19.
The latest Knights need to complete the required one-year residency. Calvo clarified that it doesn’t mean one whole year but a school year of two semesters.
“If they finish two semesters, let’s say April tapos sila and kung ang opening ng Season 96 is June, pasok sila. Basta makumpleto nila ang two semesters before the eligibility meeting, puwede sila makalaro.”
“Pero kung mag-umpisa ang Season 96 either February or March, and then matatapos pa sila ng second semester sa April, hindi puwede maglaro. Sa sunod na season na sila.”
Calvo said the residency depends on the school year program, or semesters in a year. For instance, Letran has two semesters per year, while College of St. Benilde has three, and Mapua has four semesters a year.
“So yun ang dapat na makumpleto ng estudyante. Like sa amin sa Letran or sa Arellano University, two semesters is equivalent to one school year, then sa CSB sila tri-sem, Mapua naman apat,” he said.