Alfrancis Chua has set a high bar for Letran the moment he took the role of special assistant to the rector for sports development for the school back in 2018.
"Lahat ng sinusuportahan ni boss Ramon S. Ang, nagtatagumpay," he said, with Petron being at the forefront of backing the team in the NCAA.
Four years and three championships later, Chua's winning formula still hasn't failed and turned the Knights into one of the most formidable in Philippine collegiate basketball today.
Yet despite all those pressures, coach Bonnie Tan was quick to shield his players from the pressures of carrying such weight -- from upholding the high standards of being supported by San Miguel Corp. to Letran's dreams of achieving the three-peat.
For the soft-spoken mentor, staying true to one's game is really the simple recipe for success.
"We're just playing one game at a time. Ang gusto lang namin, manalo nang manalo nang manalo and matapos namin yung inumpisahan namin. Yung three-peat, it's a bonus na lang," he said after the Knights' 81-67 Game Three victory over St. Benilde on Sunday to rule the NCAA Season 98 seniors basketball tournament.
Truly, all Letran does is win.
Tan firmly understood the gravity placed on their shoulders yet looked at this as a consistent challenge to demand greatness from his wards while also paying tribute to those who believed in them from the on-set.
"Para sa amin, hindi namin magagawa itong achievement na ito kung hindi sa mga taong walang sawang sumusuporta sa amin," said Tan, giving a nod to Chua, Ang, and Petron for their unwavering support.
"At least yung nagawa natin, hindi kayo makakalimutan sa three-peat natin at sa history na binigay natin sa school."
This is the first time that the Knights won three straight NCAA titles since Samboy Lim led the crew from 1982 to 1984 to a three-peat.
Regardless of what the future holds, Chua assured that his help will always be there for his high school alma mater, saying, "Nakasuporta lang lagi si boss RSA."
"Hindi ko magagawa ito kung di dahil kay boss RSA. Si boss RSA ang nagsabi na suportahan natin ang Letran. Sinuportahan namin at kita naman natin ang resulta."