hiphop
Sep 27, 2003, 12:32 AM
A small bunch of sweaty, grimy and tired bodies slowly and quietly piled into Baclaran's Redemptorist church last Wednesday evening, falling on their knees, giving thanks to the Lord for the blessings they have received before sundown.
They escaped the jubilant and raucous atmosphere of the Cuneta Astrodome just for this moment of silence and devotion.
This is the Letran Knights after their moment of victory in taking the 79th National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball title following a 64-59 beating of the San Sebastian College Stags in Game 3 of their best-of-three title series.
They prayed and then partied for half of the night at a techno-pop bar and restaurant along Muralla Street in Intramuros, Manila, just across where Colegio de San Juan de Letran is located.
"I really want to cherish this moment. It is so sweet kasi nobody believed na makakarating kami sa finals except ourselves," said Knights coach Louie Alas when finally settled down, sitting on an aluminum chair at the roadside of Muralla Street and in front of Eivisha Bar and Restaurant. He was watching out cautiously for cars which might stray into the area.
Alas said that all eyes were on the Stags, the Mapua Cardinals, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the San Beda red Lions. They were favored to win this one. But six crucial setbacks by the Red Lions gave the Knights a big chance of ending their three-year title drought.
Alas said that their surprise wins during the summer over the Stags in the Fr. Martin and the Manila Intercommercial Amateur Basketball Association cagefests helped lift the Knights' spirit.
"That was the time na nag-isip kami, na puwede pala kaming manalo sa mga malalakas. Ang kulang na lang sa amin ay mental toughness." said Alas, who will stick it out for a third straight year for the Knights.
He dispelled rumors that, as a former member of the Adamson Falcons squad, he is interested in taking over Luigi Trillo's spot. Alas explained that it was never on his mind.
To the blare of rap music, team skipper Ronjay Enrile and his teammates retreated into the slightly darkened interior of Eivisha where they had a few drinks and some finger foods.
- Peter Atencio, Manila Standard, Sept. 26,2003
-------------------------ARRIBA LETRAN!!!---------------------------------
They escaped the jubilant and raucous atmosphere of the Cuneta Astrodome just for this moment of silence and devotion.
This is the Letran Knights after their moment of victory in taking the 79th National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball title following a 64-59 beating of the San Sebastian College Stags in Game 3 of their best-of-three title series.
They prayed and then partied for half of the night at a techno-pop bar and restaurant along Muralla Street in Intramuros, Manila, just across where Colegio de San Juan de Letran is located.
"I really want to cherish this moment. It is so sweet kasi nobody believed na makakarating kami sa finals except ourselves," said Knights coach Louie Alas when finally settled down, sitting on an aluminum chair at the roadside of Muralla Street and in front of Eivisha Bar and Restaurant. He was watching out cautiously for cars which might stray into the area.
Alas said that all eyes were on the Stags, the Mapua Cardinals, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the San Beda red Lions. They were favored to win this one. But six crucial setbacks by the Red Lions gave the Knights a big chance of ending their three-year title drought.
Alas said that their surprise wins during the summer over the Stags in the Fr. Martin and the Manila Intercommercial Amateur Basketball Association cagefests helped lift the Knights' spirit.
"That was the time na nag-isip kami, na puwede pala kaming manalo sa mga malalakas. Ang kulang na lang sa amin ay mental toughness." said Alas, who will stick it out for a third straight year for the Knights.
He dispelled rumors that, as a former member of the Adamson Falcons squad, he is interested in taking over Luigi Trillo's spot. Alas explained that it was never on his mind.
To the blare of rap music, team skipper Ronjay Enrile and his teammates retreated into the slightly darkened interior of Eivisha where they had a few drinks and some finger foods.
- Peter Atencio, Manila Standard, Sept. 26,2003
-------------------------ARRIBA LETRAN!!!---------------------------------