eddieGIL
Sep 24, 2005, 02:25 AM
Knights Topple Dolphins For Crown
by Nathaniel T. Dela Cruz
Sweet revenge.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran fulfilled its date with destiny by completing its comeback and sweeping the remaining two games of the best-of-three championship series of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament with a 62-54 win versus 2004 titlist Philippine Christian University at the overflowing and highly partisan Araneta Coliseum.
John Paul Alcaraz, fresh from his Game Two resurrection, made a key block off Lisztian Amparado’s attempt from beneath, managed to collar the rebound, put the ball downcourt and sank a jumper for a 57-49 spread.
Jonathan Aldave, quiet in offense for most part of the game, nailed his first and only field goal after sinking a three pointer from the deep left to put Letran ahead by 10 points, 60-50, 51.6 seconds left in the game, hammering the proverbial nail to PCU’s coffin.
“It feels good. Grabe ang sakripisyo na binigay ng mga bata and I would like to thank all those who supported us, the school and the family. This is for them,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.
“Hinintay ko ito buong buhay. Hindi pa ako nagcha-champion simula bata, ngayon pa lang,” said Mark Andaya.
The championship was Letran’s way of getting back at PCU, who eliminated the Knights last year in the Final Four hostilities.
This will also be Alas’ third with the Knights, after the bench tactician led the Intramuros-based squad to a championship in 1998 and 2003.
It was a crown that was almost at the grasp of the Knights after Letran zoomed to 11 straight wins and was well on its way to sweeping the eliminations, but Fate would have them take the longer route after being derailed by Mapua Institute of Technology in the second round of the eliminations.
After surrendering Game One to the Dolphins, the Knights returned with a vengeance in Game Two and went all the way for their 16th championship in the deciding Game Three.
Both squads made significant changes in their starting unit, with the Knights opting to go small and fast with Alcaraz, Aldave, Aaron Aban, Boyet Bautista and Frederick Rodriguez while Jason Castro, for the first time, started out for the Dolphins.
Bautista started –and ended - the first quarter with a booming three point shot after Letran missed its first two attempts. Aaron Aban quickly added four more points to give Letran a 7-0 spread. With 10 seconds remaining in the clock after a split by Joel Solis from the stripe, Bautista ran around the Dolphins defense and popped a shot from behind the arc that hit nothing but net with 3.4 seconds to spare to put
Letran up, 23-18.
Letran, which finished the regular season with the best record, increased the lead to double-digits after four straight points behind Jonathan Pinera and Rodriguez. Pinera made two freethrows after Robert Sanz planted an elbow in his midsection that earned Sanz an unsportsmanlike foul. Rodriguez’ short jumper made it 33-23 with 4:39 left in the second period.
Wearing mix-matched uniforms - white jersey and blue shorts - PCU showed signs of re-organizing its offense after starting the third canto with back-to-back baskets behind Beau Belga and Gabriel Espinas but Letran’s Bautista was quick to retaliate with a three pointer - his third – which was promptly answered by Sanz who found himself wide open in the right flank for a trey that cut the deficit to five, 36-41.
Bautista’s shot was the lone field goal for the Knights as PCU managed to limit Letran to just five points – a point each from the stripe from Aban and Aldave to add to Bautista’s three point shot - in the third quarter compared to their 12-point output that bring them close at 43-41 going into the final period.
by Nathaniel T. Dela Cruz
Sweet revenge.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran fulfilled its date with destiny by completing its comeback and sweeping the remaining two games of the best-of-three championship series of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament with a 62-54 win versus 2004 titlist Philippine Christian University at the overflowing and highly partisan Araneta Coliseum.
John Paul Alcaraz, fresh from his Game Two resurrection, made a key block off Lisztian Amparado’s attempt from beneath, managed to collar the rebound, put the ball downcourt and sank a jumper for a 57-49 spread.
Jonathan Aldave, quiet in offense for most part of the game, nailed his first and only field goal after sinking a three pointer from the deep left to put Letran ahead by 10 points, 60-50, 51.6 seconds left in the game, hammering the proverbial nail to PCU’s coffin.
“It feels good. Grabe ang sakripisyo na binigay ng mga bata and I would like to thank all those who supported us, the school and the family. This is for them,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.
“Hinintay ko ito buong buhay. Hindi pa ako nagcha-champion simula bata, ngayon pa lang,” said Mark Andaya.
The championship was Letran’s way of getting back at PCU, who eliminated the Knights last year in the Final Four hostilities.
This will also be Alas’ third with the Knights, after the bench tactician led the Intramuros-based squad to a championship in 1998 and 2003.
It was a crown that was almost at the grasp of the Knights after Letran zoomed to 11 straight wins and was well on its way to sweeping the eliminations, but Fate would have them take the longer route after being derailed by Mapua Institute of Technology in the second round of the eliminations.
After surrendering Game One to the Dolphins, the Knights returned with a vengeance in Game Two and went all the way for their 16th championship in the deciding Game Three.
Both squads made significant changes in their starting unit, with the Knights opting to go small and fast with Alcaraz, Aldave, Aaron Aban, Boyet Bautista and Frederick Rodriguez while Jason Castro, for the first time, started out for the Dolphins.
Bautista started –and ended - the first quarter with a booming three point shot after Letran missed its first two attempts. Aaron Aban quickly added four more points to give Letran a 7-0 spread. With 10 seconds remaining in the clock after a split by Joel Solis from the stripe, Bautista ran around the Dolphins defense and popped a shot from behind the arc that hit nothing but net with 3.4 seconds to spare to put
Letran up, 23-18.
Letran, which finished the regular season with the best record, increased the lead to double-digits after four straight points behind Jonathan Pinera and Rodriguez. Pinera made two freethrows after Robert Sanz planted an elbow in his midsection that earned Sanz an unsportsmanlike foul. Rodriguez’ short jumper made it 33-23 with 4:39 left in the second period.
Wearing mix-matched uniforms - white jersey and blue shorts - PCU showed signs of re-organizing its offense after starting the third canto with back-to-back baskets behind Beau Belga and Gabriel Espinas but Letran’s Bautista was quick to retaliate with a three pointer - his third – which was promptly answered by Sanz who found himself wide open in the right flank for a trey that cut the deficit to five, 36-41.
Bautista’s shot was the lone field goal for the Knights as PCU managed to limit Letran to just five points – a point each from the stripe from Aban and Aldave to add to Bautista’s three point shot - in the third quarter compared to their 12-point output that bring them close at 43-41 going into the final period.