LETRAN delivered the coup de grace on Saturday, beating University of Perpetual Help, 93-76, to complete a back-to-back title reigns in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
June Silorio bounced back from his nightmarish Game Two that saw him miss a pair of crucial charities that would have sealed the deal for the Squires, delivering a performance to remember this time with 27 points, six assists and five rebounds.
That effort helped power the Squires to a second straight championship and 14th overall, the third most in the grand old league behind San Beda’s 23 and Mapua’s 20.
Moses Manalili did just enough to help the Dominican school win with 19 points, six steals and five assists.
Manalili is Finals MVP
The talented spitfire guard from Cebu, who had 35 in a 97-80 Game One win but fizzled out in Game Two when he had only 12 in a 91-90 defeat, later on was deservingly awarded the Finals MVP plum.
Letran coach Allen Ricardo said their recent feat was the result of the triumph of the spirit after losing key players from the champion team last year and being counted out in the pre-season.
“This is so sweet to us kasi wala nag eexpect sa'min papasok sa Final Four and go to the championship,” said Ricardo. “Sabi ko lang sa mga bata trabahuhin lang natin para wala tayo regrets."
The game also produced heroes in Daniel Padilla, who chipped in 17 points, and Mythical Team member George Diamante, who came close to a triple-double with nine points, 11 boards and eight dimes.
But none was biggest than Silorio on this one as he came through with the most decisive blows that somehow buried the ghost of Game Two.
While the Squires celebrated, the Jr. Altas went home melancholic as they came one win away from claiming their breakthrough high school cage championship.
The scores:
Letran 93 - Silorio 27, Manalili 19, Padilla 17, Diamante 9, Baliling 7, Navarro 5, Hugo 5, Cruz 3, Villanueva 1, Gazzingan 0, Alforque 0
UPHSD 76 - Callangan 16, Pagulayan 16, Acido 16, Gojo Cruz 9, Roluna 5, Daep 4, Borja 3, Asuncion 3, Valencia 2, Diaz 2, Salvo 0, Baldoria 0
Quarterscores: 24-18; 49-38; 69-58; 93-76
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