Published March 16, 2023 4:28pm
Updated March 16, 2023 4:44pm
Colegio de San Juan de Letran made historical past for the college, ending a 22-year title drought after sweeping College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills, 77-61, within the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball Finals Game 2 on Thursday.
The Squires delivered the squad’s first title since 2001, once they trounced the San Beda University Red Cubs to rule the Season 77 version.
Letran did a masterful job of limiting the recently-crowned MVP Luis Pablo within the first half, the place the wards of rookie coach Allen Ricardo led by as a lot as 10, 38-28.
Pablo, additionally a member of the Mythical Five and All-Defensive Team, simply had eight in that stretch because the Greenies struggled to transform.
But the Greenies confirmed some indicators of life within the third with Ethan Alian drilling 5 straight factors to chop their deficit to only six, 50-44, to erase Letran’s 12-point cushion early within the body.
The Squires, although, noticed their lead balloon to 12 anew earlier than heading to the fourth with a 56-46 lead because of Justine Hugo and Timothy Cruz.
Syrex Silorio, who exploded for 27 factors in Game 1, knocked down back-to-back baskets for a 63-48 higher hand previous midway park of the fourth.
Jovel Baliling scored 19 factors whereas Titing Manalili chipped in 16 markers to guide Letran.
Andy Gemao, who was named Finals MVP after the sport, completed with 14 factors.
The scores:
Letran 77 – Baliling 19, Manalili 16, Gemao 14, Silorio 12, Alforque 4, Hugo 4, Anabo 3, Cruz 2, Reyes 2, Diamante 1, Navarro 0, Daturmalim 0, Paguiligan 0, Padilla 0, Cuajao 0.
La Salle Green Hills 61 – Pablo 20, Alian 13, Gagate 11, Mesias 10, Ison 5, Villaver 2, S. Romero 0, Gomez 0, Rivero 0, Zaragoza 0, R. Romero 0, Muyuela, Zamora 0, Hacheula 0.
Quarters: 21-18, 38-28, 56-44, 77-61.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
