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Knights topple Lions, force Game 3

Their hopes precariously hanging in the balance, the Knight of Letran valiantly fought to live another day.

Making the necessary defensive adjustments in the pivotal period, Letran gave San Beda College a dose of its own medicine, leading to a 64-55 victory Saturday night and  forcing a sudden death match in their best-of-three NCAA Season 88 seniors’ cage finals at the packed Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Ace guard Kevin Alas endured a rocky outing, limited to just 10 points, but got the needed support from the other Knights led by Jonathan Belorio, to keep the championship balloons and confetti still inside the Big Dome until this Thursday.

A rugged forward with a deft shooting touch, Belorio scattered 15 points, highlighted by two booming triples in the fourth, plus 10 rebounds while diminutive guard Mark Cruz added 12, Carlo Lituania had 11 and graduating center Jam Cortes contributed 10 markers and 11 boards for Letran.

The gutsy victory is expected to boost the morale of the Knights, who yielded a stinging 60-62 decision in the opener last Thursday, with Alas emerging as the goat after a costly turnover in the waning moments.

Nigerian center Ola Adeogun, who finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, was the lone headache for the Knights, notably in the third canto, but he failed to sustain his dominance in the fourth, as San Beda saw its 15-game winning mastery of Letran cut short while absorbing its first loss in the finals since 2009.

“When we reviewed the first game, dikit lang so madami kaming ginawang tama, very minor na lang ang adjustments, like matchup. Nilaro lang namin ang tendency ni Ola,” stated Letran coach Louie Alas.

“This win means a lot. We’re very happy,” added Alas, before cautioning, “Bale wala ito pag hindi ma-follow up ng another win. Kahit nanalo kami, let’s give it to San Beda. We will have to play several notches higher.”

Showing up with fire in their eyes before a 15,354-strong crowd, the Knights quickly got on a roll, seizing an early 33-23 cushion–the biggest lead of the game–before taking a 37-28 advantage at the break.

After a Cortes bucket preserved Letran’s buffer at 39-30, San Beda, as expected, uncorked a crippling run, with the 6-foot-6 Adeogun throwing his full weight at the paint coupled with an airtight defensive stance that ignited an 11-2 counterattack for a 43-41 lead.

Two made freebies by Jake Pascual gave San Beda a 47-45 lead before a triple by Belorio sparked a 9-0 surge that put Letran ahead 54-47 with 6:15 remaining.

An Anjo Caram trey cut the Red Lions’ deficit to four but Alas, pouncing on San Beda’s relatively slow defensive reaction, drove hard to the lane and managed to manufacture a completed three-point play, keeping Letran afloat 57-50.

In the ensuing play, Rome De La Rosa made an inside incursion but Belorio came through with another huge triple that seemed to take the wind out of the San Beda’s sails for a 60-52 spread, time down to just 2:58.

Amer retaliated with a trey to pull within 60-55, but that proved to be the Red Lions’ last made field goal in the final 1:59 as the Knights threw another defensive blanket while scoring four more points - two apiece from Kevin Racal and Cortes - that pegged the final tally.

Earlier, the Red Cubs succeeded where their senior counterparts failed, clinching their fourth consecutive juniors title by sweeping the Staglets of San Sebastian via a masterful 83-58 victory.

Javee Mocon was named the Finals MVP, coming up 10 points and 11 rebounds, while two other teammates added 13 markers to help the Red Cubs bag their 20th crown overall.

Meanwhile, center Ian Sangalang of San Sebastian College-Recoletos formally received the Most Valuable Player plum, becoming the second straight Golden Stag to hoist the highest individual award while besting Alas and Scott Thompson of Perpetual Help.

A 6-foot-6 slotman and a native of Pampanga, Sangalang posted game-averages of 19.3 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.4 blocks this season, only good for second behind teammate Calvin Abueva, the former league MVP.

Now suiting up for Alaska Aces in the pro ranks, Abueva became the first player in league history to lead in points, rebounds and assists departments after the eliminations. But the 6-foot-2 livewire incurred a disqualifying foul against Vence Laude of Lyceum in their second round meeting last Aug. 23 won by SSC 83-75.

Joining Sangalang, Alas and Thompson in this season’s Mythical Team were Cameroonian center Cedric Noube Happi of Emilio Aguinaldo College and San Beda forward Jake Pascual.

Happi, who posted game-averages of 16.1 points and 12.7 rebounds, was also named the Rookie of the Year award while Letran center Raymond Almazan was adjudged the Defensive Player of the Year.
 
The scores:
 
Juniors
 
San Beda 83 – Tolentino 13, Caracut 13, Mocon 10, Abatayo 8, Diputado 6, Furaque 6, Abude 5, Tongco 5, Gumtang 5, Abuda 3, Macapayag 3, Inigo 2, Brojan 2, De Villeres 2, Romero 0.

San Sebastian 58 – Costelo 10, Escalambre 10, Loor 8, Gayosa 7, Yong 5, Navarro 5, Miasco 5, Calisaan 4, Magno 2, Santos 2, Velasco 0, Gatdula 0, Malamug 0, Causon 0.
Quarters: 16-12, 32-25, 56-41, 83-58.
 
Seniors
 
Letran 64 – Belorio 15, Cruz 12, Lituania 11, K. Alas 10, Cortes 10, Racal 2, Almazan 2, J. Alas 2, Luib 0.

San Beda 55 – Adeogun 12, Caram 9, Amer 9, K. Pascual 9, J. Pascual 6, Dela Rosa 4, Dela Cruz 4, Koga 2, Lim 0, Mendoza 0.
Quartersores: 18-14, 37-28, 41-43, 64-55

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