Lions, Knights in dream NCAA duel

Knights, Red Lion seal finals duel. Photos by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Two of the fiercest rivals—and most successful teams—in NCAA basketball will duke it out for the title of Season 91.

Pushed to the limit, San Beda and Letran responded with aplomb, turning back their respective Final Four opponents Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay to set up a dream championship showdown.

The Red Lions, seeking a sixth consecutive title and ninth in 10 years, leaned on their second unit to repulse the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 78-68, and move into the finals for the 10th straight season.

With pint-sized guard Mark Cruz taking charge down the stretch, the Knights also didn’t need their twice-to-beat edge, slipping past the Mapua Cardinals, 91-90, to make the finals for the third time in four years.

With 35 titles between them, the Lions and Knights begin their best-of-three series on Friday, also at MoA Arena.

The duel will pit two rookie coaches in San Beda’s Jamike Jarin and Aldin Ayo of Letran.

“It’s nice to be in the finals. Nobody expected us to be here at the start of the season,” said Ayo.

Cruz fired 18 of his 24 points in the second half, while Kevin Racal poured nine of his 19 in the final period as the Knights moved within two victories of ending a 10-year title drought.

The 5-foot-6 Cruz was the catalyst of the Knights’ late uprising with a couple of difficult shots over Mapua’s 6-9 centre Allwell Oraeme, typifying the brave Letran stand. CJ Isit hit a triple to peg the final count.

The Lions roared back from 40-48 down, behind second-stringers AC Soberano, JV Mocon and Dan Sara. Soberano hit back-to-back treys to turn the game around for the Lions, before Ranbill Tongco, Mocon and Pierre Tankhoua drained clutch baskets down the stretch.

“I’ve been criticized for using 15 players,” said Jarin. “My bench delivered.”

Earlier, the Arellano Braves hacked out an 85-79 victory over the Mapua Red Robins to reach the finals for the first time opposite the San Beda Red Cubs in the juniors division.

The scores:
First Game
LETRAN 91—Cruz 24, Racal 19, Sollano 16, Nambatac 12, Quinto 10, Calvo 4, Preku 3, Luib 3, Balanza 0, Publico 0.
MAPUA 90—Biteng 17, Nimes 15, Menina 15, Isit 11, Oraeme 10, Nieles 10, Serrano 10, Braña 2, Aguirre 0.
Quarters: 21-17, 45-42, 67-70, 91-90
Second Game
SAN BEDA 78—Amer 11, Sara 11, Soberano 10, Tankoua 10, Mocon 8, Sorela 7, Adeogun 5, Dela Cruz 5, Tongco 4, Koga 3, Reyes 2, Presbitero 2, Cabañag 0, Bonsubre 0, Sedillo 0.
JRU 68—Balagtas 14, Poutouochi 12, Teodoro 9, Dela Paz 8, Estrella 8, Astilla 6, Pontejos 6, Abdulwahab 3, Lasquety 2.
Quarters: 17-19, 30-32, 56-53, 78-68