With a bitter difference of one point, the Letran Knights fail to secure the championship title, falling to the UPHSD Junior Altas. Photo courtesy of Yvonne Altaire Solon of The LANCE.
The Letran Squires ceased to seal the series against the UPHSD Junior Altas, 90-91, in game two of the NCAA Season 99 Juniors Basketball Finals on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
George Diamante carved out a double-double performance with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and three blocks, followed by June Silorio who had a team-high 20 markers to go along with six boards.
Daniel Padilla tallied 17 points and seven rebounds, while Moses Manalili and Jovel Baliling dropped 12 and 11, respectively.
With 53 seconds left into the game, the recently crowned NCAA Juniors MVP, Amiel Acido, drained a cold-blooded three from the top of the key to give his squad the lead, 90-91.
Letran and Perpetual got off to an aggressive start with technicals being assessed to players from both teams prior to tipoff.
The Squires saw themselves in foul trouble as early as 9:26 into the first, allowing the Junior Altas to get a quick six to nothing lead with two triples from Mark Gojo Cruz.
Coach Allen Ricardo’s squad shined defensively, translating into opportunities on the offensive end of the floor which ended the half with a cushion, 59-50.
Acido led a 9-0 run for his team, uncorking two triples in the process. Manalili and the Squires answered back with a run of their own to regain the advantage.
The Junior Altas chipped away at the deficit with three after three as they shot a combined 31.8% from that area for the game.
Jhames Daep powered through Letran’s defence with a swift drive to give his squad the lead, 77-75, at the start of the fourth.
Their back and forth affair climaxed at the charity stripe. With 4.3 seconds remaining, June Silorio stepped up to the line and clanked both of his free throws with Perpetual, securing the rebound at the buzzer, 90-91.
Jan Pagulayan paced the Altas as he finished with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds. Acido had 19 markers with five boards, while Gojo Cruz and Jhames Daep had 16 and 13 of their own.
Letran heads into a do-or-die match for the Championship against the Junior Altas this Saturday, March 23, at 9:30 AM at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Quarter Scores: 34-28, 59-50, 75-73, 90-91
LETRAN (90) - Silorio 20, Diamante 18, Padilla 17, Manalili 12, Baliling 11, Gazzingan 5, Navarro 3, Cruz 2, Golez 0, Villanueva 0, Reyes 0, Hugo 0.
PERPETUAL (91) - Pagulayan 23, Acido 19, Gojo Cruz 16, Daep 13, Diaz 5, Borja 5, Valencia 3, Callangan 3, Baldoria 2, Roluna 2, Ayon 0, Asuncion 0.