Isaac, who guided Mapua to a consecutive final four finish in his two season as bench tactician will now coach Barako Bulls of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), replacing Coach Yeng Guiao.

Mapua Tech Assistant Athletic Director Carlito Geronimo is very optimistic about Isaac’s replacement, Ercito Victolero.

Ercito Victolero was a point guard for the Cardinals from 1992 to 1996. After graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering in 1996, he shot hoops for the AMA Team in the Philippine Basketball Legue (PBL) as an amateur cager. His stint latyer on flourished, playing in the Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBL) and PBA wherein he was also given the priviledge to be part of the Philippine National Team in 2000-2001. After his stint, he switched his gears to coaching, handling various teams including PBL’s San Mic Coffee and other collegiate and provincial squads. Victolero is also assisting Coach Koy Banal of Magnolia Pure Water in PBL.

Victolero’s plan is to balance the Cardinal’s offensive and defensive ends. Chito also wants to emphasize discipline and hard work, in and out of the court.

Coach Ercito works alongside fellow Mapuan Efren Garcia on defense, Mapua Red Robin’s head coach Randy Alcantara on offense, and Marlon Celiz in the squad’s physical conditioning.

What lies ahead for the Cardinals? With the absense of Neil Pascual, Ian Mazo and Alaska Aces’ Kelvin Dela Pen, Coach Chito Victolero is relying on the hands of fourth year veterans TG Guillermo, Mark Anthony Acosta and Paul Alexis Cinco to lead the team. Guillermon, the Cardinal’s new Team Captain, beleives in Coach Victolero’s coaching style. Vice Captain Acosta salutes their new mentor’s unique coaching techniques.

The Philippine NCAA uses FIBA rules, and under those rules is the FIBA classification point system. The four teams will have to play a playoff for the three Final Four spots.

San Beda is untouchable at the first spot at 11 3 and gets the first twice-to-beat incentive.

No.2 SSC-R 4 2 10
No. 3 MIT 3 3 9
No. 4 Letran 3 3 9
No. 5 JRU 2 4 8

San Sebastian will play Jose Rizal University and Letran will play Mapua. Winners of both games will play in another do-or-die match to determine which team gets the second seeding in the Final Four and the last of two twice-to-beat incentive. The losing team automatically gets the third seed. Losing teams in the first two matches will also play another match to determine who will take a vacation and who will sit at the fourth seed.

The two schools from Intramuros, which are three blocks apart, Letran College and Mapua Institute of Technology, will play on Septemeber 15 at 4 PM. The Cardinals beat the Knights in the first round but the Knights avenged that loss in the second round to split their games in the season.

Backcourt

This is a game in which both teams will be bringing stout backcourts to the table, however I would hand the edge to Mapua. Kelvin dela Pena (the reigning Most Valuable Player of the league) and Jonathan Banal comprise the best starting backcourt in the field. Even with Mangahas replacing Jonathan Banal in the backcourt isn’t too shabby.

Both Banal and Mangahas are dynamic players that knows how to distribute the basketball. What makes them dangerous is that because of their shooting abilities, they can get their own shots anytime they want.

Frontcourt

Daa, Guevarra, Foronda against the frontcourt of Mapua, led by their senior Niel Pascual, comprising of Jason Pascual, Mazo, and Sarangay would be a tie. These Big Men will battle for the boards and blocks. Note that, boards will be a great factor in this game. As the record shows, Mapua beat Letran when they lead in boards with 38-34 while Letran beat Mapua when the Knights had 57 boards against the Cardinal’s 41 boards. It may mean that whoever gets the most rebounds of the game will mostly win it.

Coaching

Both Louie Alas and Leo Isaac are veteran mentors but I would hand the edge to Isaac. Isaac probably have more mentoring experience, he is one of the assistant coach of Air21 and the coach of Noosa Shoes. Coach Louie Alas is considered to be the best defensive coach of the NCAA and will make good plays.

Intangibles

Allan Mangahas and Mark Sarangay gets a lot of time a rookie, which means Leo Isaac and the Cardinals are as young as it gets. Isaac is only in his third year as the Cardinal’s mentor. I would hand the intangibles edge to the Letran Knights.

Prediction

Mapua 62

Letran 60