By Waylon Galvez and Kristel Satumbaga
The two biggest collegiate leagues in the country had contrasting endings – though both were accomplished in historic fashion.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles, left, and the Letran Knights. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
The coveted NCAA championship is back to Intramuros as Letran ruled the 95th season, while Ateneo won for the third straight time as the Katipunan-based team bagged the 82nd UAAP Season title.
REDEMPTION — Letran celebrates after dethroning San Beda in NCAA Season 95 Finals Game 3 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 19, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
Letran had to do it the hard way as it endured a pair of do-or-die matches in the step-ladder playoffs after three-time defending champion San Beda ruled the eliminations 18-0.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan hugs Jerrick Balanza after dethroning San Beda in Game 3 of NCAA Season 95 Finals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 19, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
As the third seeded team, the Knights survived the playoffs with hard earned victories, beating No. 4 San Sebastian Stags 85-80 and No. 2 Lyceum Pirates 92-88 in the semifinals to arrange a best-of-three championship showdown with the Red Lions.
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 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 12, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
Still on a high following the twin wins in the playoffs, the Knights of coach Bonnie Tan drew first blood in the finals with a pulsating 65-64 victory. The Red Lions, under coach Boyet Fernandez, refused to leave quietly however and tied the series 79-76.
In Game 3, the Knights’ graduating players Jerrick Balanza and Bonbon Batiller delivered big time with 27 and 19 points, respectively, while Fran Yu – the finals MVP – was a steady force down the stretch as Letran dethroned San Beda 81-7 for its 18th title.
In the UAAP, Ateneo showed it was a cut above the rest with a title sweep.
The Eagles won all 14 games in the double-round eliminations for an outright berth in the best-of-three finals, waiting for two weeks for University of Santo Tomas, Far Eastern University and University of the Philippines to battle for the remaining championship ticket.
The fourth-ranked Tigers, already exceeding preseason expectations, threaded through the eye of the needle for a return trip to the finals for the first time in four years.
The Ateneo Blue Eagles celebrate after defeating the UST Growling Tigers in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 Finals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 20, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
They first toppled the No. 3 Tamaraws 81-71 then overcame the Maroons’ twice-to-beat advantage with 89-69 and 68-65 wins to face the Eagles.
UST’s Renzo Subido, center, celebrates his buzzer beater three-pointer at the second half of the UAAP season 82 stepladder semis against FEU at Smart Araneta Coliseum, November 6, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
Interestingly, UST swept UP in all four meetings this season with CJ Cansino, Renzo Subido, Rhenz Abando, Sherwin Concepcion and Soulemane Chabi Yo at the frontline.
“It’s all about execution and following the game plan,” said UST coach Aldin Ayo, who was reported to have extended his contract with the school for another three years.
UST, however, failed to duplicate its fellow Dominican school Letran’s upset title win in the NCAA as Ateneo proved a tough nut to crack.
Led by Thirdy Ravena, the Eagles hammered the Tigers in Game 1 91-77 and bested them in Game 2 86-79 for Ateneo’s 11th crown.
Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena celebrates after defeating UST in the UAAP Season 82 Finals Game 2 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 20, 2019 (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio, File)
Source: Manila Bulletin
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