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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider Alcantara braces for big fight vs dangerous Benilde

Alcantara braces for big fight vs dangerous Benilde

Published Nov 23, 2023 11:48 am

At A Glance

  • Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara expects a physical matchup against College of St. Benilde with the personal battle between former teammates Warren Bonifacio and Will Gozum adding spice to the anticipated semifinal face-off.

Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara expects a physical matchup against College of St. Benilde with the personal battle between former teammates Warren Bonifacio and Will Gozum adding spice to the anticipated semifinal face-off.

24. MU RANDY ALCANTARA.jpg
Mapua head coach Randy Alcantara (NCAA Media)

It will be an intriguing sight for Alcantara who used to mentor both Bonifacio and Alcantara at the juniors team back in the days.

“Siyempre ‘yon din naman ang [aabangan ng tao] ‘yong Bonifacio and Gozum matchup, talagang maganda laban ‘yon,” Alcantara stressed after their 77-74 victory over Jose Rizal University on Tuesday, Nov. 22.

“Exciting yung game na ‘yon, kailangan lang maging tough ulit kami, syempre ‘di lang naman Will Gozum yung kalaban, marami pang kailangan i-consider do’n sa Benilde. Kailangan lang maging tough lang [ulit kami] pagdating sa Final Four,” he added.

A member of the championship team in 1991 alongside Benny Cheng and Kevin Ramas, Alcantara gets a golden chance of giving the Cardinals the long awaited title after a failed attempt in Season 97 against the Letran Knights.

Armed with a twice-to-beat advantage against the formidable Blazers in their Nov. 26 game, the Cardinals flaunt a strong lineup led by MVP frontrunner Clint Escamis and Bonifacio.

They will be facing Gozum, the reigning MVP, Miggy Corteza and Mark Sangco, who all had key contributions but fell short against Emilio Aguinaldo College in their final eliminations game. The Blazers also had an impeccable run in Season 98, only to collapse against the Knights in the finals.

“Di naman natin alam ang plano nila [ng CSB] kanina, basta alam ko malakas sila, lumaban sila ng championship last year so iba parin ‘yong experience nila so di naman gaano iisipin ‘yon,” Alcantara stressed.

Related Tags

Mapua Cardinals NCAA Season 99 College of St. Benilde
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