Colegio de San Juan de Letran is one win away from repeating as champions after dominating the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 97-80, in the NCAA Season 99 Juniors Basketball Finals on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Titing Manalili led all scorers with a season-high 35 points in a near triple-double performance that saw him bag nine rebounds and nine assists.
Meanwhile, George Diamante had a double-double of 14 markers and 16 caroms for the Squires.
On the other hand, Jan Pagulayan paced the Junior Altas with 17 points. Jhames Daep dropped 12 markers off 75-percent shooting.
Game 2 of the finals is on March 20 at 2:30 PM, still at the same San Juan venue.
“I just told the boys during halftime na they just have to stay composed offensively and defensively para maka-pull away tayo,” said head coach Allen Ricardo on their second-half turnaround.
“Nangyari naman, nakinig sila sa game plan. We pulled away and we controlled the fourth quarter.
“Gusto na po namin tapusin, siyempre gusto na naming magpahinga and makasama mga family namin,” said Manalili, with sights set to end it all on Wednesday.
Squires head coach Allen Ricardo is wary of what the Altas can bring as they lost to the same team in the elimination round, 94-88, last March 1.
The Squires came out guns blazing from the get-go with their stifling defense, taking a 29-20 advantage in the first quarter.
Manalili proved to be pivotal for Letran, dropping 20 huge points in the first half while picking up four steals, limiting Perpetual’s output.
Undeterred by their slow start, Pagulayan led the Junior Altas to come back from down 13 with 14 points in the first half. His two timely triples helped spearhead their counter to take the lead by the end of the half, outscoring Letran 26-16.
However, the Squires’ championship experience would kick in by the start of the third quarter as they went on a 15-0 run to take a 62-49 lead.
Letran then outscored the Junior Altas, 32-15, for the rest of the frame.
This sudden outburst was simply too much for Perpetual as the Squires led by as much as 20 in the fourth period.
Letran capped off their stellar performance with a Manalili dagger and a half-court buzzer-beater by Alex Gazzingan to take Game 1.
The Scores:
Letran 97 – Manalili 35, Silorio 15, Diamante 14, Navarro 12, Gazzingan 9, Baliling 8, Padilla 2, Reyes 2, Hugo 0, Golez 0, Cruz 0, Villanueva 0
Perpetual 80 – Pagulayan 17, Daep 12, Acido 10, Roluna 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Diaz 8, Asuncion 7, Borja 6, Callangan 0, Baldoria 0, Ayon 0, Valencia 0
Quarterscores: 29-20; 45-46; 77-61; 97-80
