Knights oust Stags, forge duel vs Lions

10:44 pm | Monday, October 15th, 2012

GAMES THURSDAY
(Mall of Asia Arena)
4 p.m.—San Beda vs San Sebastian (Jrs)
6 p.m.—San Beda vs Letran (Srs)

Letran star Kevin Alas defies the defense of San Sebastian’s Calvin Abueva in last night’s playoff at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Pint-sized guard Mark Cruz stood tallest in the final period as Letran edged San Sebastian, 73-70, at Filoil Flying V Arena last night to reach the NCAA basketball finals for the first time in five years.

The smallest player on the floor at 5-foot-7, Cruz drilled in 10 of his 20 points in the last period as the Knights overcame the Stags’ twice-to-beat edge to earn the right to face the defending champion San Beda Lions in the finals.

Game 1 of the best-of-three finals between two of the NCAA’s winningest teams is slated Thursday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Cruz hit the biggest shots, none bigger than his jumper with 1:52 left that gave the Knights a 69-66 cushion.

Ian Sangalang struck for the Stags, who even went ahead through Dexter Maiquez, but the Knights made key defensive stops before Jonathan Belorio and Jam Cortes hit four free throws to ice the game.

The Knights’ win completed a four-game sweep of the Stags this season. This one, however, had so much at stake and Letran coach Louie Alas still felt his team needed to double its effort to repeat their last three victories.

“It came down on their willingness to win,” said Alas. “There was no more need for Xs and Os. In this game, I was more of a cheerleader than the coach.”

Coming off a 43-point explosion in the series opener last Saturday, Kevin Alas cooled off with 18 points. But his layup with 6:15 remaining was part of the quick burst from the Knights that allowed Letran to regain the lead.

The scores:
LETRAN 73—Cruz 20, Alas 18, Belorio 10, Racal 8, Almazan 7, Lituania 4, Gabawan 4, Cortes 2, Luib 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 70—Abueva 22, Sangalang 15, Gusi 10, Juico 7, Dela Cruz 6, Pascual 6, Maiquez 4, Miranda 0, Antipuesto 0.
Quarters: 25-22, 44-40, 56-54, 73-70

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Tags: Basketball , NCAA , NCAA basketball

playamoth

LETRAN – All Filipino. No capre.

pinoyobserver

Is this blatanlty racist, narrow minded, and absolutely gutter like comment typical of the teaching and ideals promoted by this supposedly Roman Catholic institution of “higher learning”?

playamoth

FYI, the Kafirs (Span- Cafre) were imported by the Spaniards from Africa to work in their colonies as laborers as they are strong and can do the work of two people. So Letran is playing five against six. Intiendes senyor?
pinoyobserver

Thank you for confirming to me that you are a racist, narrow-minded, and classless thinker. If you represent the majority of students of Letran, Letran is miserably failing as an institution of higher learning.

playamoth

ARRIBA! ARRIBA! ARRIBA LETRANISTA!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1677582184 Mike Martinez

Congratulations to Letran for their Last win of the season!

playamoth

We are your KNIGHTMARE!

dodong1

ARRIBA LETRAN!! DEFEAT THE LIONS…
manongcastro

The Letran Knights defeated the San Beda Lions in the eliminations. I think they have a chance at the title.

http://twitter.com/thealanmeister Alan Martinez

no they didn’t. check the scores again in the NCAA website. in fact, last time letran won against san beda was in 2007. good luck to Letran, you would surely need it.

RiverHorse

madali naman matalo san beda eh. take away their imports, pupulutin sila sa pansitan. imagine before they became “champions,” nung wala silang import, KULELAT SILA for so many years. nung nagka import, instant “champion” agad?
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1677582184 Mike Martinez

again with the import issue haha gasgas na yan bakit they cant scout players? or talagang wala lang sila budget? LUMA na yan brad :D
RiverHorse

wala nang mas gagasgas pa kaysa sa character ng san beda team mo… ikaw na nagsabi, malaki lang budget ng para sa team… kung yun ba ginagamit na lang para maging scholarship ng deserving filipino student, nakatulong pa kayo sa bayan. DARE lang, try lang ninyo na huwag magfield ng import. tingnan natin saan kayo pupulitin. yung first game nyo nga laban sa arellano halatang luto. hahahaha!
berdengleon

you know what’s ruining the sport, are people like you who think that way..the import issue has been trivialized to great proportions,,its actually a joke on you guys, you take pride on being all filipinos, if you lose, then swallow it like real filipinos..since when basketball in the philippines limited to filipinos alone? unfortunately for your bigot priests and officials, they chose to thread the “high road” then try winning it that way..how ironic that your school was founded and ran ’til today by “import” priests but your acceptance can’t even overcome race differences in the basketball courts..i have also known filipinos to take pride on their hospitality, sadly, on their beloved sport, it doesn’t exist..
RiverHorse

may nakisawsaw na naman na bobo sa usapang ito… mayadong defensive sa pagkuha ng import. trivialized to great proportions? does it mean, masyadong pinaliit yung issue about the imports? galing naman mag-isip!

BERDENGLEON, what you don’t get is the point that there is a pool of great talent here in the philippines. talents who, unfortunately, could not enroll because of poverty. if san beda is a true educational institution, it will seek out these talents instead of paying for imports. you really don’t get it, do you??? malamang for you, nde na bale mang-gulang basta maging champion. is that it?

also, i would love to see san beda play like real men. nde yung madikitan lang ng ibang player may foul na. parang mga bading.
http://profile.yahoo.com/YAC3Y4AY7HYSGWQLJT4X7I6CXQ Jean

Mas matamis ang panalo kapag nanalo ng All-Pinoy. Dugong Pinoy, dugong Arriba.

bgcorg

ARRIBA, LETRAN! Congratulations. Bring in the championship trophy, Letran Knights!

Knights oust Stags, forge duel vs Lions

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