This is the 3rd time that San Beda and Letran has met in an NCAA Finals since 2006.
In Season 83, San Beda took the crown in 2 games. In Season 88, both were in the brink but San Beda prevailed in 3 games, taking over the reigns as the NCAA’s winningest team in history.
Bring out the challenges
A hard -fought battle on opening night against the Blazers. Losses to Lyceum and Letran in the 1st round then that stunning loss to cellar dweller, Mapua. The latter was a wake up call.
Although they were the favorites to go all the way, a lot of people questioned their resolve, their hunger, perhaps, waning. They have been playing inconsistently all -year, numbers don’t lie.
In their last game of the regular season, they needed an extra period to extinguish an unrelenting and hungry Knights squad.
What’s worse, enter the Koga ligang labas issue. The case erupted with proof that is unclear and without a shred of testimony. It added a black hole in an already long and weary NCAA season. No conclusion, no end in sight. During the finals, hecklers were shouting his name but San Beda wisely ignored the jeers.
Fear neither fire nor blood
At the series opener, the Red Lions claimed pole position at the final turn with a decisive, 80-68 dismantling of the Knights.
Ola Adeogun had 16 points and 11 rebounds. Baser Amer had an excellent game with 16-points, 8 rebounds while dishing out 6 assists, including 3 of 5 from long range. Ivan Ludovice also had his way from beyond the arc shooting 60% for a game total 11 points. San Beda out -rebounded Letran 49-40.
In their 2nd meeting, the Red Lions were appalling offensively, shooting just 38% compared to Letran’s 48%. A high scoring affair thwarted San Beda’s chance to close it out.
The Red Lions struggled to dictate the tempo and had 21 turnovers. The Knights took advantage, squeezing out an 18-9 edge in turnover points and 14-4 fastbreak points.
Art dela Cruz top scored for San Beda with 23 points and 12 rebounds with a 44% from 3 point range to keep up with the offensive minded Knights. Baser Amer only had 8 points, his 5th single digit performance of the season but contributed 6 assists.
Do it all Team Captain, Rome dela Rosa picked up his final foul midway thru the 3rd period and left the game with 10 points to his credit.
Adeogun, who earned his 4th personal early in the 2nd half, rode the bench thru most of the 3rd and early 4th quarters, could not make his presence felt with only a single attempt from the shaded area.
The most dominating center in the NCAA only had 10 points mostly from the free throw line but converted on a surprise 3-pointer to close the gap down the stretch.
They answered the Clarion’s call
In Game 3, San Beda started strong with a 14-7 advantage to end the 1st quarter. Letran made a furions comeback in the 2nd quarter to close the 1st half with a 6-point lead.
It was in this timeframe that multi-titled coach- Boyet Fernandez – used the zone to pressure the ball at the same time disrupting Letran’s drive and kick attack. It was his final card. He added that San Beda has never used the zone against Letran all year. It was a risk because the Knights are adept in hitting that deadly three -ball.
The Red Lions can go under in minutes but the ploy worked and that’s what coaching is all about.
The 3rd period was close with San Beda on top, 45-43. In the 4th quarter, it was a dog -fight all the way.
Adeogun’s strong move to the basket knotted the game’s final lead change. Dela Cruz’s floater with 3 minutes left, made it a 3-point lead for San Beda, 55-52.
After two free throws by Kevin Racal, Dela Cruz’s clutch jumper from the pinch post extended San Beda’s margin once again by 3.
A wide open jumper by Ford Ruaya from the right wing trimmed the Red Lions lead by a single digit until Mark Cruz suffered cramps with 28 seconds left.
Adeogun’s block on Racal’s baseline drive secured another possession for the Red Lions.
The hungry Knights had the chance to tie or steal the game on a poor inbounds pass by San Beda luckily Ludovice and Dela Cruz regained possession to finally seal the game and the title for the Red Lions.
Letran had the edge in fastbreak points, 11-4 but San Beda took care of business in the rebounding department, 48-42 with17 turnover points compared to Letran’s 10.
A winner everywhere he goes. An NCAA juniors title. A title in the UAAP with Ateneo in his rookie season and in his return in the NCAA with the Red Lions, helping them achieve no. 17. Dela Cruz is this year’s NCAA Finals MVP with a 20 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists, another double-double performance.
Adeogun , the main reason why the Red Lions have been title contenders the past two seasons and years to come, has contributed 17 points, 13 rebound and 4 blocked shots for probably the biggest game of San Beda since mounting their title run in Season 82.
8 finals appearances. 7 Championships. An 18-0 campaign. A pair of 3-peats. Four straight championships, the first in team history, with a grand total of 18 titles in the country’s oldest collegiate basketball league.
How sweet it is. JMP
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