IT took more than two years for Letran to defend the NCAA men’s basketball championship, but it was worth it.

“Of course, we’re very happy. Mahirap itong pandemic na liga coming from more than two years na bakante,” said coach Bonnie Tan after the Knights captured their 19th crown.

“I don’t know kung masasabi natin na mas masaya pero mas mahirap itong season na ito compared to last season,” he added.

Letran completed a perfect 12-0 campaign with a 75-65 win over Mapua Sunday for its first back-to-back title romp since 1998-99.

The sacrifices that the Knights underwent in the run-up to the season were no joke, from setting up a bubble camp last February to being away from their loved ones.

“Lahat naman ng games namin, struggle kami pero ‘yung mga players natin nag-step up. Lahat ng challenges sa kanila, na-overcome nila and I’m happy for them,” said Tan.

As Letran reveled its latest conquest Sunday night at the Muralla campus with a bonfire, Tan is not thinking of having two NCAA titles in one year as Season 98 is penciled for a September opening.

“We will savor this victory first,” said Tan.

One of the main reasons of the Knights’ championship run is newly-minted Rookie-MVP Rhenz Abando.

A transferee from University of Santo Tomas, Abando doesn’t believe he deserves the honor. Abando won the top rookie honors, as he was qualified under the NCAA rules being a first-year athlete in the league.

“Actually yung rookie award parang hindi ko naman deserve ‘yon kasi mas deserve ng fresh grads iyon,” said Abando.

“Pero ‘yung MVP, siguro wala namang rason doon kasi lahat naman kami galing sa scratch. Pare-parehas kaming ilang months lang yung preparation. Lahat naman na-pandemic,” he added.

The championship served as a fitting send off for Jeo Ambohot, the Game 1 hero who has completed his playing eligibility for the Knights.

“Sobrang saya talaga kasi pag-exit ko ng Letran, may napatunayan din ako. Para din sa Letran, sa pamilya namin, at mahal namin sa buhay,” said Ambohot, who was picked third overall by new PBA club Converge in last week’s annual Rookie Draft. By Theodore Jurado