By: Jerod Orcullo
Behind a monster 35-point double-double from Guillan Quines, La Salle Green Hills outlasted University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 95-91, to force a winner-take-all Game 3 in the NCAA Season 100 Juniors Basketball Finals on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Quines also hauled down 11 rebounds, to go along with five steals and four assists in a dominant all-around performance.
Providing valuable support were Migz Osis with 16 points and three steals, Gian Gomez who chipped in 12 points and six assists, and Ian Yutuc who added 11 markers of his own.
A major key to the Greenies’ bounce-back win was their stifling defense on reigning Juniors MVP Lebron Jhames Daep. The 6-foot-7 big man was held to just eight points on a rough 4-of-15 (26.7%) shooting clip.
In a post-game interview, La Salle head coach Renren Ritualo commended his team for executing their game plan with heart and intelligence.
“Well I have to give it all to the players, it’s all fight, all heart, but today they played smart. Hindi kasi pwedeng puro puso, we have to play smart also against a powerhouse team like the Perpetual Altas. We pulled through today,” said Ritualo.
“Like I said at halftime, they can’t outwork us because we’re down 0-1, so we just have to keep on fighting, keep on working every possession.”
With the game hanging in the balance late in the fourth, both teams refused to give an inch. The score was tied at 85-all with just 1:39 left on the clock.
But once again, the Greenies found a way.
Gomez buried a cold-blooded triple to put LSGH ahead, 90-87, before Osis stepped up big in the clutch. The guard scored the team’s last five points, converting 3-of-4 from the free throw line to seal the hard-fought victory and send the series to a do-or-die Game 3.
For Perpetual, Jan Roluna finished with 25 points, seven rebounds, and three steals. Jan Pagulayan tallied 13 points and eight boards, while Daep, despite his offensive struggles, grabbed 14 rebounds.
Earlier in the day, San Beda secured third place in the tournament with a convincing 74-59 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
Randaile Medroso led the way for the Red Cubs, erupting for a game-high 24 points alongside three rebounds. MJ Vailoces contributed a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards, while Andrei Ugaddan added 12 markers.
Although the Red Cubs fell short of their championship aspirations, head coach Mikko Roldan expressed satisfaction with how they ended their campaign.
“At least consolation prize, parang we were able to finish our season with a win, so yun na lang yung at least being positive dun sa situation namin,” Roldan said. “Although hindi namin nakamit yung goal nga namin to be in the Finals and eventually sana maging champion, at least marami naman kaming aral na nakuha this season.”
The Scores:
Battle for Third:
SBU-R 74 – Medroso 24, Ugaddan 12, Vailoces 10, Wagan 7, Dollente 6, Reroma 4, Garcia 3, Batongbakal 2, Mondigo 2, San Juan 2, Winters 2, Sahali 0.
CSJL 59 – Padilla 8, Sillorio 8, Valdeavilla 8, Cruz 7, Quijada 7, Dela Rama 6, Quinones 5, Hugo 4, Cargo 2, Pico 2, Villanueva 2, Alforque 0, Danan 0, Lumague 0, Magcale 0.
Quarterscores: 19-14, 41-27, 58-45, 74-59.
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Finals Game 2:
LSGH 95 – Quines 35, Osis 16, Gomez 12, Yutuc 11, Ortega 7, Sharma 6, Abad 5, Hachuela 2, Hizon 1, Ison 0.
UPHSD 91 – Roluna 25, Pagulayan 13, Rosales 11, Tabbuan 10, Callangan 9, Daep 8, Cristino 5, Corpuz 5, Baldoriaa 5, Zanoria 0, Borja 0, Velasquez 0, Nitura 0.
Quarterscores: 37-30, 53-54, 69-71, 95-91.
