AFTER three years, the Letran Knights are back in the finals.
Jun Roque’s two charity shots in the last three seconds made this possible as the Knights went on to eke out a hard-earned 74-70 stopping of the University of Perpetual Help Altas on Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Jonathan Manalili chipped in game-high 16 points for the Knights, who went on to post a two-game sweep of their best-of-three semifinals series with the Altas in the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
“Hindi namin ma-feel ang game kanina. Panalangin ko na lang na sana magkaroon kami ng stops, somehow magkaroon kami ng good executions. The team is blessed na nandito na kami sa championship. Now, we will work on this,” said coach Allen Ricardo of Letran, which is back in the title hunt, following back-to-back title conquests in 2021 and 2022.
Ricardo is best known for coaching the Letran Squires to their first NCAA junior crown in Season 98.
Patrick Sleat unloaded 17 points for the Altas, who were forced to a turnover and three misses in the final minute.
Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde Blazers’ nerves of steel and Ian Torres’ winning shot at endgame gave them a fighting chance in Game 2 of their battle with the San Beda Red Lions.
After the Lions bungled two winning opportunities, Torres’ jumper in the final second lifted the Blazers to a 77-75 triumph over the Mendiola dribblers to equalize the best-of-three semis series at 1-all.
“I give the players credit. They did not panic today. It’s something we talked about,” said Blazers’ coach Charles Tiu.
The win put the Blazers in a do-or-die encounter with the Red Lions in Game 3 on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
Winston Ynot showed the way for the Blazers with 19 points and seven rebounds, with his layup in the last 6:21 putting them in a 62-all deadlock with San Beda.
“We can’t expect San Beda to fold because they are a good team. For awhile, we were holding the fort, and because of the shots that they were making. Then Ian made a bad shot, but after that, he made a big one and it was a game winner,” added Tiu.
In junior action, the Mapua Red Robins beat the Arellano Braves, 86-82, tying their semis series at 1-all, with Jhillian Pallis and Chris Parame hitting 18 points each.
The EAC Brigadiers held down the Letran Squires, 75-70, to equalize their semis series, with Clint Bonus shooting 20 points.
