NCAA Sudden Death: History will be repeated but in whose favor?
In what is probably the most thrilling NCAA championship game in the last decade, Letran and San Beda will go for all the marbles on Friday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum. The Knights tied the best-of-three series last Saturday after an imposing 64-55 victory over the three-peat seeking Red Lions. And now the stage is set for the deciding Game 3, where history will be made.
Both San Beda and Letran have 16 senior basketball titles each in the country's oldest cage league. Who will get a 17th NCAA crown?
Momentum is definitely on the side of Letran. The Knights actually entered the finale with a hot eight-game winning run that was capped by back-to-back upset wins over title-favorites San Sebastian Stags in the semis. From a dubious 4-5 win-loss card in the first round, they posted an 8-1 slate in the second to earn the right to face the Stags in the semis, but with a twice-to-beat disadvantage. Nonetheless, Letran managed to keep the winning streak until it got halted by San Beda in Game 1 of the finals, 60-62.
But even in that loss, the Muralla-based squad had its brilliant moments, even leading by nine markers at one point. From a neck-and-neck contest in the payoff period, the Knights were slapped with back-to-back technical fouls for resentment to the referees' calls. Lion Baser Amer converted four charities that helped his team's cause. But the Knights still had the chance to send the game to extra period or even win it by a three-ball but Kevin Alas was forced into an error by a San Beda trap.
[RELATED: Slideshow of Game 1]
Game 2 was all about the Knights. With fire in their eyes, Coach Louie Alas's boys clearly wanted to extend the series so badly that they outfought and outplayed the mighty Red Lions. The Knights won most departments — 50-39 in rebounding (with 22 offensive boards), 12-9 in assists, 9-7 in steals, 17-18 in turnovers, and 34%-33% in total field goals. They also hit 6-of-20 from beyond the arc as opposed to SBC's 2-of-14.
But more importantly, more Knights showed up in this game. The sensational Kevin Alas actually struggled in Game 2, collecting just ten markers, a far cry from his 21 points per game norm. He also shot an atrocious 0-of-7 from long-distance. While San Beda did a stellar defensive job on Alas, sweet-shooting power forward Jonathan Belorio and graduating guard Carlo Lituania combined for 26 points to provide the firepower for Letran.
Belorio's gargantuan triple in endgame was the back-breaker. It was his third trey of the night in a perfect 3-of-3 from rainbow land. He also hauled down a massive ten rebounds. Jam Cortes, playing in his last year with Letran, also played big with 11 boards and ten markers.
In contrast, only rookie Olaide Adeogun posted double digits in scoring for the Lions, with 12 points. Amer, who had 20 points in Game 1, was limited to just nine points. Anjo Caram and Jake Pascual, both donning the red and white jersey in their final year, also had nine points apiece.
[RELATED: Slideshow of Game 2]
Before Game 2, Letran was 0-3 versus San Beda this 88th NCAA Season.
But in Game 3, all the numbers don't matter anymore. Will Letran once more succeed in pushing the pace or will San Beda's suffocating defense squeeze the life out of the Knights?
Both teams will prepare hard for this winner-take-all affair. Both coaches will be coming out with surprise tactics that could spell victory. Alas is eyeing his fourth NCAA trophy with the Knights after leading them in 1998, 2002 and 2005. The Red Lions denied him his fourth championship ring in 2007. Alas wants nothing but to put to rest the ghost of 2007. On the other hand, Ronnie Magsanoc is hoping to be the third straight San Beda chief tactician to win an NCAA title in his maiden season after Koy Banal (2006) and Frankie Lim (2007).
New heroes could emerge. Old warriors could take the center stage for the last time in this final dance.
And both camps are certainly geared up for war. Last Saturday's extravaganza posted the highest gate sales for the NCAA this year, with over fifteen thousand in attendance at the Big Dome. Three-fourths of that number was on San Beda's side. For Game 3, the demand for tickets has been crazy. We can expect the crowd to be split right in the middle. Interestingly, both San Beda and Letran have the most colorful basketball history in the NCAA. As former rivals Ateneo and La Salle bolted the NCAA, the Bedans and Letranites would become the league's most passionate and rabid supporters. The 1 p.m. encounter at the Big Dome on Friday should be electrifying.
In 2005, the Knights also evened the series in Game 2 versus the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, and went on to win their 16th diadem in the deciding bout. Can they repeat this feat against the most dominant team in the last six years?
In 2006 and 2008, the Red Lions took Game 1 of the finals but could not complete the sweep in the second match against PCU and Jose Rizal University respectively. They bounced back to snare the title in Game 3 of both seasons. Can they do it again a third time?
History will certainly repeat itself on Friday. But who will it bless this year? One thing's certain — the team with the bigger heart will come out victorious.
Don't miss this epic encounter. It will be one for the books.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
More Yahoo! PH Sports blogs:
Disappointment as MVP backs out of POC elections
Ronnie Alcano wins Louisiana 9 Ball event
Despite Banal's loss, ALA Promotions a big winner in Pinoy Pride
