Raffy Dela Peña | FCF File Photo

Letran and San Sebastian will go into the 90th NCAA basketball tournament hardpressed to match if not surpass their second and third place finish last year despite losing some key players entering the season.

The Knights are still smarting from the departure of their in big men Raymond Almazan and Jonathan Belorio while the Stags will have to make do without Leo de Vera, Raffy Gusi, Mark Trinidad, Ranimark Tano and Giuseppe Vergara, or practically half of the team.

Without Almazan, who is now with Rain or Shine in the PBA, and Belorio, Letran will be left with plugging a gaping hole inside as the responsibility.

That is why Letran coach Caloy Garcia is encouraging his other big men — Jamil Gabawan, Ford Ruaya and Rey Publico — to respond to the challenge.

“It will be tough to fill in the inside void but we’re hoping last year’s finals experience have strengthened my other big men,” said Garcia, who debuted last season by steering the Muralla-based dribblers to a second place finish behind eventual champion San Beda after pushing the best-of-three series to the brink.

For San Sebastian mentor Topex Robinson, he will need his veterans — Jovit dela Cruz, Jamil Ortuoste, Bradwyn Guinto, Cjay Perez and Bobby Baculanag — to step up and serve as good examples to the younger players.

After all, half of Robinson’s team this year are rookies — Earvin Alvarez, Jerick Fabian, Justin Mercado, Spencer Petta, Jeffrey Santos, together with ex-Staglets standouts Rhanzelle Yong, Ryan Costelo, and Mike Calisaan.

“I lost some key players last year so I will need my veteran players to be shining examples to my younger guys,” said Robinson.

Robinson also said his team is used to this kind of situation as they also came in as a rookie-laden team after losing their “Pinatubo Trio” of Calvin Abueva, Ian Sangalang and Ronald Pascual but went on to defy expectations by gatecrashing into the Final Four and finishing third.

“We’ve been in this kind of situation last year and we did okay. We just need to play as a team and have faith on the system for us to be okay again this season,” he said.

Both Garcia and Robinson agreed that their 3:00 p.m. game on Saturday’s opening twinbill at the Mall Of Asia Arena in Pasay City should help gauge on how they will fare this year while serving as a re-match last year’s Final Four showdown that the Knights handily won, 85-58, to advance to the finals.

Season 90 will be ushered in with San Beda, winners of four consecutive seniors championships and seven of the last eight, and host Jose Rizal clashing at 1:00 p.m.

“It will more or less show on the direction we’re going this year,” added Garcia.

“It’s a good gauge on how we’ll do because we all know Letran stronger teams in the NCAA,” remarked Robinson.