By CARLO ANOLIN
In a highly-emotional game, the Letran Knights showed steely resolve and prevailed over the top-ranked College of St. Benilde, 81-75, at the start of their NCAA Finals Sunday, Dec. 4, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kurt Reyson, King Caralipio, and Louie Sangalang made crucial plays down the stretch to help the Knights take Game 1 of their best-of-three title series that pushed them closer to achieving their mission – winning the biggest prize for the third straight time.
Though Miggy Corteza gallantly pumped life for the Blazers despite battling cramps, his heroics fell short as Kurt Reyson, rookie Rafael Go, and Fran Yu put the finishing touches in front of 8,284 spectators at the Big Dome.
Sangalang typified the Knights’ valiant stand with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Caralipio added 16 points.
Reyson, who finished with 13 points built on three treys along with four rebounds, hit a triple which enabled the Knights to slightly put some distance against the Blazers before Caralipio followed up with another basket en route to a 75-69 lead with 5:30 left.
Letran was eager to pull away as Sangalang split his free throw in the ensuing play after JC Cullar missed both of his free throws in that sequence.
Corteza then came alive for CSB and made two straight baskets to put the game within a one-game possession, 76-73, in the last three minutes.
After Yu fired blanks from the free throw line, Go displayed a heart of a veteran, secured the offensive rebound, and even drained one of his two free throws with 2:03 remaining for a 77-73 cushion.
When both teams couldn’t convert in the next plays, Reyson made one of the crucial plays of the game by forcing an offensive foul on Will Gozum, who was just trying to provide a screen with 35.6 ticks left.
That play proved costly for the Blazers as Yu, who also delivered seven points, five rebounds, and five assists, this time around made the two free throws with 23.4 seconds to go to ice the game.
Gozum paced the Blazers with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Corteza also scored 18 points.
LETRAN 81 ‒ Sangalang 24, Caralipio 16, Reyson 13, Paraiso 9, Yu 7, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Santos 2, Go 1, Tolentino 0, Monje 0, Ariar 0.
CSB 75 ‒ Gozum 18, Corteza 18, Sangco 10, Nayve 9, Marcos 7, Pasturan 4, Oczon 3, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Lepalam 2, Flores 0, Sumabat 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 52-50, 66-67, 81-75.
