By Waylon Galvez
Games Friday (Mall of Asia Arena Pasay City)
1 p.m. – Lyceum vs San Beda (Jrs)
3 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony
4 p.m. – Letran San Beda vs (Srs)
FIRST BLOOD — The Letran Knights celebrate after taking Game 1 of the NCAA Season 95 Finals against the San Beda Red Lions at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
After two defeats against its archrival this season, Letran has found a way to beat San Beda.
Fran Yu stepped up big time in the final stretch to power the Knights to a 65-64 victory against the heavily favored Red Lions in Game 1 of the best-of-three finals series in NCAA Season 95 Tuesday night at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena in Pasay City.
Letran’s Fran Yu, who made crucial plays in the waning minutes of the payoff period, points to the crowd during the NCAA Season 95 Finals Game 1 against San Beda. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
Yu, a third year point guard who was the hero in Letran’s win against No. 2 seed Lyceum of the Philippines University in the stepladder playoffs last week, made the crucial plays on both ends.
Yu’s assist on Larry Muyang for an easy basket inside the shaded lane gave the Knights a 65-62 lead with 1:27 left in the game. He followed that up with a steal on Calvin Oftana.
Letran’s Bonbon Batiller, right, gets past San Beda’s Donald Tankoua. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
San Beda cut the deficit to just one point when Evan Nelle converted a layup to make it 65-64 with 37.5 seconds left.
The biggest play Yu made came when he collared the rebound after Oftana missed a three-point shot.
Fouled by Evan Nelle, he muffed his first foul shot, and intentionally missed the second as time expired.
Letran players celebrated the victory at center court as the Knights snapped their rival’s 18-0 winning streak during the elimination round that propelled the Red Lions to the finals.
Yu finished with 10 points. Graduating players Bonbon Batiller and Jerrick Balanza scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Letran’s win gave the school a 1-0 record in the title showdown, or just a victory away from winning it all after bagging the championship back in 2015 under then mentor Aldin Ayo.
Despite the win, Letran’s first year mentor Bonnie Tan said it’s not over until they complete their mission.
San Beda’s James Kwekuteye, right, charges against Letran’s Christian Balagasay. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
“One game pa lang naman. We are happy for the win, pero hindi pa din tapos ito,” said Tan. “Although we have the momentum, nakuha namin ang Game 1, sana hindi na pakawalan ng players ko.”
“Sila naman ang naglalaro. Kung gusto nila, kunin nila (championship in Game 2). Kami we’re just here (as coaches) to guide. I told the players to play for the school, the alma mater and for their families.”
Letran can end the title series and win its 18th championship with another victory in Game 2 on Friday at the same venue.
San Beda, which came to the series on a 24-day break, got 20 points from Nelle, while Oftana – the league MVP – was held to just 11 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field.
San Beda’s Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua also struggled offensively with seven points but he collared 13 rebounds as he battled different Letran defenders in Muyang, Chris Balagasay and Jeo Ambohot.
Scores:
LETRAN 65 – Batiller 12, Balanza 10, Yu 10, Ambohot 9, Muyang 7, Reyson 7, Mina 3, Ular 3, Caralipio 2, Sangalang 2, Balagasay 0, Olivario 0.
SAN BEDA 64 – Nelle 20, Canlas 11, Oftana 11, Tankoua 7, Soberano 6, Bahio 4, Doliguez 3, Etrata 2, Abuda 0, Cuntapay 0, Alfaro 0.
Quarters: 17-18; 28-32; 47-44; 65-64.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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