Published December 4, 2022 6:25pm
Updated December 4, 2022 6:38pm
Colegio de San Juan de Letran moved to inside one win of finishing a uncommon three-peat after edging De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 81-75, in Game 1 of their best-of-three NCAA Season 98 Finals collection on Sunday.
Louie Sangalang led Letran with 24 factors on 10-of-11 taking pictures from the sphere. He additionally grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds for the Knights.
King Caralipio added 16 factors whereas Kurt Reyson had 13 markers within the win.
After a sluggish third interval, Letran stepped it up within the fourth with a livid 9-0 run that allowed the Knights to construct a 76-69 cushion with 4:30 left.
With Benilde’s most important gunners on the bench with cramps, Blazers ahead Miggy Corteza saved their hopes alive with back-to-back baskets, chopping it all the way down to a 76-73 deficit.
But Letran’s Rafael Go break up from the charity stripe, 77-73, and a gradual Fran Yu took care of business with two free throws, 79-73, with 23 seconds remaining.
Letran will look to complete off Benilde subsequent Sunday, December 11, in a bid to deliver dwelling the crown for a 3rd consecutive season.
Letran established a nine-point lead late within the second interval off a triple from Reyson however three straight baskets from MVP frontrunner Will Gozum tied issues up at 50-all earlier than Jimboy Pasturan fouled Fran Yu on the rainbow nation with 2.5 seconds left.
Yu then drilled two of his three freebies to ship the Knights to a 52-20 halftime benefit as Louie Sangalang paced Letran with 13 factors early.
Benilde was dealt a serious blow early when Migs Oczon sprained his ankle on the 8:04 mark of the primary.
But the Blazers regrouped, opening the third with an 8-0 spurt led by Mark Sangco and Gozum. The Knights countered with a 14-9 run to finish the interval down by one, 67-66.
Letran outscored Benilde, 15-8, within the fourth interval with Gozum restricted to taking part in simply the ultimate 1:13 of the interval as he and Robi Nayve handled cramps.
Gozum tallied 18 factors and 11 rebounds to steer Benilde whereas Corteza additionally completed with 18 markers. Oczon, in the meantime, completed with three factors as he was on the ground for less than two minutes earlier than exiting with the harm.
The scores:
Letran 81 – Sangalang 24, Caralipio 16, Reyson 13, Paraiso 9, Yu 7, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Santos 2, Go 1, Ariar 0, Monje 0, Tolentino 0.
Benilde 75 – Gozum 18, Corteza 18, Sangco 10, Nayve 9, Marcos 7, Pasturan 4, Oczon 3, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Lepalam 2, Sumabat 0, Flores 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 52-50, 66-67, 81-75.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
