In the upcoming NCAA Season 99, Collegio de San Juan de Retran's mission is very clear: delivering four rare tots.
However, that's easy to say, but it was all vital to their third consecutive win, especially with the Knights saying goodbye to stars like Finals MVPs Fran Yu and King Carlipio and veterans Brent Paraiso, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario.
But Murala's men, as is evident in previous campaigns, are unlikely to be short-staffed as they seek to win four crowns in a row, an achievement Letran has never achieved in the past.
The player expected to lead the Knights this time is sniper and captain Kurt Rayson, who scored 10.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists while playing with Kaalipio, Paraiso and Yu in season 98.
Rayson led the offseason tournament in the PBA D - League and 2023 Peel Oil Eco Oil Preseason Cup campaign, leading the way in the offseason tournament, reaching the semi - final and quarter - final stages, respectively.
Veteran players such as Pao Xavionar (6.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg per game) and Kobe Monze are expected to play even better this season.
The team will also have other holdouts in Kevin Santos, Raphael Go, Kyle Tolentino, Andrei Guarino, Kint Ariar and Enrico Bojorcello, with Deo Cuazao, Ken Brillantes, Nico Pazardo, Jay Garupil, James Zumao-As and Joseph Nunag to complete Letran's squad.
Renzi Bazar, who is well-known for winning the championship as a long-time agent for former coach Bonnie Tan, is also set to begin his first head coach term.
Rayson said he understands the pressure of appointing a captain, but that the graduation guard will take one game at a time because he hopes to retain the title at Intramuros.
"Saakinnaman challenges Nainiwan M to Nagdalang III Samin," Rayson said.
"(For me, this is a big challenge left by those who have offered three chances.)
"Yung press naman and on naman ragiyan so saakin lang, Hindi naman initiation ' yoon kashi mawawala kami kamisa focus. Anginissip kona lang is paano kami mananalo sa bawat laro."
("There will always be a burden. So I don't think about it because we're going to lose focus. What I'm thinking about is how to win each game."