No excuses for Louie Alas after Letran’s Game One setback in NCAA finals

Mia Rengie Angela Domingo, InterAKTV · Friday, October 19, 2012 · 12:23 am

AKTV/Paul Ryan Tan

“We all know basketball is a game of execution. We were not able to execute down the wire.”
That was the opening statement of Letran Knights coach Louie Alas following their heartbreaking 62-60 Game One loss to the San Beda Red Lions in the NCAA Season 88 finals Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
“Nasayang yung effort namin ng more than 39 minutes. But we’ll bounce back on Saturday,” he said.
The Knights had a slim 25-24 lead at the half, before San Beda put the clamps down on Letran in the third quarter.
“We can compete naman, na kaya namin talunin ang San Beda. Kailangan lang ng consistent basketball for 40 minutes. Kumurap lang kami, nag-zone sila, ayun, nakahabol na ang San Beda,” said Alas.
The Red Lions were aided by two consecutive technical fouls called on the Knights in the third quarter — the first on forward Kevin Racal and the second on Alas. But the coach did not complain about the calls.
“Sayang yun, anim na free throws yun. I’m not complaining sa officiating pero hindi na ulit mangyayari yun sa next game,” he said, adding that he will instruct his team to just ignore calls that went against their way.
Letran star guard Kevin Alas, who averaged 30 points per game in the semifinals against San Sebastian, was held to just three second half points after scoring 15 in the first two quarters. Worse, he had a key turnover in the dying seconds that sealed the game for San Beda.
“Expected na namin na every time makaka-touch ng leather si Kevin, may double team,” said the elder Alas, Kevin’s father.
“Nung last play, di-nouble sya kaya ‘di na naka-execute. Siya ang top gun, so lagi sya hinahanap ni [Mark] Cruz. ‘Di mo din masisisi ang bata.”
Alas also noted a key circumstance late in the game, when the team was charged a mandatory television timeout.
“Nagka-problem kami nung last seven minutes. Hindi din ako na-inform ng coaches ko na sa amin napunta ang mandatory timeout. I guess we’ll just have to charge it to experience.”
But he promised his team will rebound in Game Two, which is set Saturday at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s just one loss. They have to beat us twice to win the series. Short-lived lang din ‘tong frustration over the heartbreaking loss dahil may next game pa to bounce back.”

SOURCE: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/no-excuses-for-louie-alas-after-letrans-game-one-setback-in-ncaa-finals