By MARK REY MONTEJO
Syrex Silorio took the spotlight and powered Colegio de San Juan de Letran past a gritty University of Perpetual Help DALTA, 93-76, to claim its back-to-back titles in the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball tournament on Saturday, March 23, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The 19-year-old pride of Marbel, Koronadal City poured 13 of his 27 points in the final frame, highlighted by six straight points that gave the Squires a 75-58 lead, and the dagger triple to enjoy a 86-70 lead that completely took the fight out of the Junior Altas.
The huge bounce back game from Silorio along with the brilliance of Finals Most Valuable Player Titing Manalili helped Letran capture its 14th overall title in the grand old league history.
Letran head coach Allen Ricardo heaped praises to his wards for giving their all despite missing the services of most of their seniors were going into the finals series.
“Yon kasi mas importante ‘yong morale maibalik namin eh, kaya ngayon talagang maganda morale ng mga bata, ganda ng nilaro nila,” Ricardo stressed.
“Talagang tinrabaho ng mga bata ‘to, they deserved it, kahit wala ‘yong mga ibang members ng Season 98 ay naitawid nila,” he added.
Manalili, who chipped in 19 points, joined hands with Silorio and Daniel Padilla, to anchor a back-breaking 18-5 run to give the Squires a 19-point lead – an advantage they preserved until the final buzzer
Padilla finished with 17 points.
The Intramuros-based squad took control early with Silorio, who tallied 14 in the first half alone, anchoring the offensive rally to keep ahead in the first two quarters.
But Perpetual found its new hero in the series in Icee Callangan to back Amiel Acido, Jan Pagulayan and Mark Gojo Cruz to stay within striking distance, 43-36.
However, George Diamante Jr. and Jolo Navarro spearheaded Letran’s counter attack to regain footing with a 49-38 lead.
In the third salvo, the Junior Altas came alive thanks to Gojo Cruz and Arzell Asuncion who drilled two booming triples to trim the gap to just six, 63-57.
That however the closest the Junior Altas could get as the Squires proved to have answers to their every run.
Callangan, Pagulayan and Season MVP Acido posted 16 each in a losing cause for Perpetual which fell short of winning its first NCAA juniors crown.
