Letran nips Mapua, returns to NCAA Finals

The Knights celebrate their return to the NCAA Finals. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Letran is back in the Finals.

The Knights outlasted a hardworking Mapua side, 91-90 to book a seat in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tournament championship series Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Nobody expected us to be here, but I huddled the team after the alma mater song and told them, ‘Masaya tayo ngayon, but we still have a job to do.’,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. “We’re not just happy in the Finals. Gusto namin mag-champion. (We want to be champions.)”

Letran has a chance to end its 10-year title drought against the victor of the Jose Rizal University-San Beda tiff.

Mark Cruz starred in the victory and poured in 13 of his 24 points in the third quarter, where both teams engaged on a shootout. He added six rebounds and six assists.

Kevin Racal also had 19 markers and 12 rebounds, Jomari Sollano 16 points and 11 boards, and Rey Nambatac 12 points and 11 rebounds in the victory.

Racal iced the game for Letran, which owned a twice-to-beat advantage as the second seed, after the Cardinals muffed several chances in clutch including triples from CJ Isit and Exeqiel Biteng to extend their life in the Final Four.

The Knights also had their defense to thank for, making MVP frontrunner candidate Allwell Oraeme bleed for points in the paint.