Colegio de San Juan de Letran topped off their repeat bid with a dominant 93-76 romp against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 99 Juniors Basketball Finals on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Graduating floor general Titing Manalili was named Finals MVP after notching 19 points and six steals while shooting a team-high 66.7-percent from the field.
Additionally, Syrex Silorio stepped up in the most important game of his young career with 27 huge points to go along with his five rebounds and six assists for Letran.
“Para sa mga bata ‘to. They deserve it, na kahit wala ‘yung mga ibang members from Season 98, naitawid nila, and talagang ‘yun ang gusto kong mangyari. Mas mahirap ‘yung [this season],” said now-two time Coach of the Year Allen Ricardo.
“Sobrang saya kasi pinagarap ‘ko to dati pa, bago kami mag-champion, gusto ‘ko talaga ‘yung buong taon ko sa NCAA mag-champion ko, at natupad naman,” newly-minted Finals MVP Manalili shared.
Perpetual’s early three-point lead off a Callangan triple to make it 6-3 would be the last time the Junior Altas would lead all game.
From thereon, it was the Squires leading the charge. Despite Silorio’s 27 markers, it was a team effort from Letran, as they outperformed Perpetual with 31 assists to the Junior Altas’ 15.
Apart from Manalili, Daniel Padilla, and Jovel Baliling were pivotal for the Squires on the defensive end, contributing to Letran’s massive 14 steals throughout the contest.
Although the squad from Las Piñas managed to cut the deficit to six late in the third, 63-57, the championship experience of the boys from Intramuros would prove to be too much to overcome.
With Silorio scoring in double digits at the backend of the final half, Letran’s second consecutive title was never in doubt as they cruised to the championship, 93-76.
Letran took Game 1, 97-80, before Perpetual leveled the series with a 91-90 victory in Game 2.
Icee Callangan, Jan Pagulayan, and Season 99 MVP Amiel Acido each dropped 16 points for the Junior Altas.
The Scores:
Letran 93 – Silorio 27, Manalili 19, Padilla 17, Diamante 9, Baliling 7, Navarro 5, Hugo 5, Cruz 3, Villanueva 1, Gazzingan 0, Alforque 0
Perpetual 76 – Callangan 16, Pagulayan 16, Acido 16, Gojo Cruz 9, Roluna 5, Daep 4, Asuncion 3, Borja 3, Valencia 2, Diaz 2, Salvo 0, Baldoria 0
Quarterscores: 24-18; 49-38; 69-58; 93-76
