LETRAN REIGNS Foils San Beda’s historic bid, bags NCAA title in OT
It was a game that could easily be mistaken for a Hollywood film and Letran made sure that the ending would be of fairy tale proportions. The Knights made up for their meltdown late in regulation and ousted fivetime defending champion San Beda Red Lions with a dramatic 85-82 overtime victory to capture their first NCAA basketball crown since 2005 last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Letran ended its decade-long journey to bring the title back inside the walls of Intramuros after having to go through the eye of the needle as San Beda rallied from a 75-67 deficit with 1:53 left in the fourth quarter behind the exploits of veteran Baser Amer to force a five-minute extension.
But in the end, it was the Knights who emerged victorious in a series that will be considered as one of the greatest in the league’s 91-year history.
Rookie Jomari Sollano stole the spotlight from graduating stars Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz as the undersized center came through with a go-ahead jumper off San Beda import Ola Adeogun to put Letran up 83-82 with 32 seconds left.
Letran then prevented San Beda from scoring on its final two possessions, while also benefiting from a double lane violation following Sollano’s split from the foul line with three seconds remaining to extend the gap.
The Red Lions then saw their bid for a record-setting six-peat disappear at the buzzer as the Knights and half of the 20,158 people that filled the three-yearold Pasay City venue savored their first championship since Louie Alas coached them to victory over the Philippine Christian University Dolphins 10 years ago.
Aldin Ayo, the rookie coach whose capabilities were doubted when he took over his struggling Alma Mater before the season began, who led Letran to the pinnacle of college basketball supremacy.
“Tayo naman!” exclaimed Ayo, whose team beat Letran in its third attempt after bitter finals defeats in 2012 and 2013.
Ayo also repeated the accomplishments that he and fellow teammates did in 1998 when they won the title by foiling the San Sebastian Stags’ six-peat bid.
Ayo, who broke down in the arms of his after the game, was quick deflect the credit to his players, who made up for their lack of height with their outside shooting and chaotic but effective defending.
“Matatalino itong mga ‘to,” he later said. “Kung hindi kami magiging matalino saan kami pupulutin? Sa height namin? Sa liit namin? Napunuan talaga nila sa smarts.”
Boxing icon and team manager Manny Pacqui- who saw the momentous occasion from the bench, was so elated that he promised to give members of the team P100,000 each as a fitting reward.
Letran won its 17th crown a day after the 65th anniversary of the 1950 title triumph over San wife
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Hopes of repeating the feat by that 1950 team known as “Murder Inc.” loomed after back-to-back triples by Racal and Cruz, the Finals Most Valuable Player, made it 75-67 in the Knights’ favor.
Amer, however, had other ideas as he capped off the insane comeback with a steal off McJour Luib for the tying layup with 13 seconds to play in the fourth.
“Nung humabol sila, sinabi ko lang na it is not the time para gumive up o anu man,” Ayo said. “It’s anybody’s ballgame. Nawalan lang kami pero nandun pa rin yung opportunity to win it. I just kept on telling them that they can still do this.”
Racal had a fitting sendoff before beginning his PBA career with Alaska with 23 points and five rebounds. Sollano posted 19 points and seven rebounds and also made a stellar job at defending Adeogun in the paint.
The 5-foot-5 Cruz finished with 14 points, six rebounds and seven assists to earn the series MVP with averages of 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists and three steals.
Southpaw guard Rey Nambatac silenced critics after his scoreless outing in Tuesday’s 68-61 loss with 13 points.
De la Cruz led San Beda with 15 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists but disappeared down the stretch as he bid goodbye to his career in heartbreaking fashion.
Earlier, San Beda finished off Arellano University with a 70-61 victory to capture its seventh straight juniors crown.
Germy Mahinay made up for his terrible performance last Tuesday with 15 points and 11 rebounds while Finals MVP Evan Nelle hit six points in a big third period to help the Red Cubs retain their supremacy in the high division division.
San Beda won 20 of 21 games, including an 18-game sweep of the elimination round that gave them a thriceto-beat advantage against Arellano in the finals.
The Red Cubs failed to complete a perfect season after the first-time finalist Braves extended the series with a 72-68 win last Tuesday.
Racal 23, Sollano 19, Cruz 14, Nambatac 13, Luib 5, Publico 4, Quinto 4, Calvo 2, Apreku 1, Balanza 0.
Dela Cruz 15, Amer 14, Mocon 14, Adeogun 13, Sara 9, Tankoua 6, Koga 5, Tongco 4, Soberano 2, Cabanag 0, Reyes 0, Presbitero 0, Sorela 0, Sedillo 0.
Quarters: 20-12; 40-39; 5452; 75-75 (Reg); 85-82 (OT).