Every game is stressful, with some handling it very well while others failing to contain themselves in pressure-packed moments.

That's why Letran mentor Allen Ricardo took his time to thank his life coach for boosting not only morale but also his players which he thought was vital in the team's title run in the NCAA juniors basketball.

Ricardo, who also served as an interim coach for the Knights, emphasized how his life coaching session affected the whole squad’s performance after a disappointing loss against the Perpetual Junior Altas, 91-90, in Game Two last Wednesday, March 20.

“Talagang talo namin no’ng Game two, hindi ako mapalagay as a coach and as a leader kaya kinabukasan, kaya I make sure na kinausap ko ‘yong life coach namin na kailangan meron tayong session ko kahapon para mabalik ‘yong sigla,” Ricardo said on Saturday, March 23, after winning his back-to-back titles with Letran.

“Iyon kasi importante ‘yong morale kailangan maibalik mo bago tayo pumunta sa technical aspects of the game. I’m thankful sa life coach namin na ‘yong Thursday and Friday, maganda ‘yong morale ng mga bata,” he added.

In Game 2, the Intramuros-based squad had the chance to seal the series with a couple of free throws coming from Syrex Silorio and Alex Gazzingan, but unfortunately the two players missed the freebies which gave the Junior Altas the opportunity to tie the series and force a sudden death.

Before talking to their life coach, Ricardo offered comforting words after the game.

“Sabi ko walang bibitaw alagaan natin ‘yong lamang, dumipensa pa tayo, may mga instance nagkakamali ‘yong mga bata pero that’s part of the game of basketball, ‘yun nga sabi ko bawi lang, and I’m thankful sa mga boys na walang bumitaw,” Ricardo continued.