Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) – The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights captured their first back-to-back NCAA crowns in over two decades after beating the Mapua University Cardinals, 75-65, in Game 2 of their best-of-three finals on Sunday at the Filoil Flying V Centre.
NCAA Season 97 Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year Rhenz Abando spearheaded the Knights’ title drive with a double-double effort of 14 points and 12 rebounds to also sweep their 12 games in the shortened season.
RELATED: Rhenz Abando named MVP, Rookie of the Year in NCAA Season 97
Pro-bound Jeo Ambohot delivered in his last collegiate game with 13 points and nine rebounds and was named the Finals MVP.
Big man Louie Sangalang also contributed 11 markers and 13 boards.
Letran asserted its might as the defending league champion against its neighboring school in Intramuros, holding Mapua to only eight points in the first period.
The Knights continued their scoring onslaught in the second quarter for a 39-23 halftime lead but cooled down a bit in the third canto, with the Cardinals trimming their deficit to 10 points at 48-58.
In the fourth period, Mapua attempted a comeback, with Arvin Gamboa and Paolo Hernandez draining triples down the stretch to help cut their deficit to five points, 65-70.
But Abando lived up to his individual accolades as he scored the last five points of Letran to secure the Muralla-based school’s 19th seniors men’s basketball title.
Hernandez and Adrian Nocum led Mapua with 14 points apiece, as they settled for a runner-up finish in the league for the first time since 1995.
The Scores:
LETRAN 75 – Abando 14, Ambohot 13, Sangalang 11, Caralipio 9, Javillonar 8, Reyson 7, Yu 6, Paraiso 3, Mina 3, Olivario 1, Fajarito 0.
MAPUA 65 – Hernandez 14, Nocum 14, Lacap 12, Gamboa 10, Pido 7, Bonifacio 6, Mercado 2, Agustin 0, Asuncion 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 19-8, 39-23, 58-48, 75-65.
