CALVIN Oftana just proved why he is the Season MVP.
With San Beda backed against the wall, the 6-foot-4 forward completed the go-ahead three-point play with 19.1 seconds left to lift the proud Mendiola side to a thrilling 79-76 Game Two victory over fierce rival Letran on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
That bucket, the biggest of his 17 points, enabled the Red Lions to keep their four-peat bid alive by sending the fiercely contested best-of-three championship series in the NCAA Season 95 seniors basketball tournament to a deciding Game Three, set on Tuesday in the same venue.
Oftana, who also had 11 rebounds, and two blocks, kept San Beda afloat, three days after its aspirations for a perfect season went down the drain after a 65-64 loss to Letran in Game One.
He wasn't the only one who had something to prove.
James Canlas showed his worth as a member of the Mythical Team as he bucked his poor shooting in the finals opener with his star-making performance of 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, including the game-icing freebies with 4.5 seconds left in front of 18,407 in attendance.
The Red Lions held their ground on defense in the endgame, bothering Jerrick Balanza's desperation pass to Allen Mina to force a turnover as the final buzzer sounded.
"I’m just relieved that we got over this Game Two and we won this one," said coach Boyet Fernandez after the Red Lions kept alive their drive for a 23rd title in the seniors division.
"I salute my players also. They really wanted to prove something today and that’s what character is. We had a loss, everybody’s against us, but the players didn’t really want to lose."
Clint Doliguez picked the right time to show up for the Red Lions with 17 points, six rebounds, and a steal, as Kemark Carino, Fernandez' 'magic bunot,' tallied seven points and three boards while defending Larry Muyang for majority of the second half.
San Beda went on a 15-0 barrage to start the game to seize control of the early goings.
Buoyed by a brave performance from Fran Yu, Letran fought back with a 31-point third quarter assault to grab a 56-53 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
Canlas, though, sparked the Red Lions' 13-0 run to come back from a 66-59 hole and grab a 72-66 lead with 3:55 left as Yu went down with cramps and never returned.
"Fran Yu, wow. We’re just lucky he got cramps. That’s why we got our momentum and got back into the game. I salute that guy," said Fernandez of Yu, who had 23 points, five assists, and two rebounds for Letran.
Bonbon Batiller, who collected 11 points, four rebounds, and two assists, had a chance to steal the win, but the ball slipped through his grasp on an open undergoal stab as the Knights were called for a 24-second shot clock violation.
Muyang got 17 points, 10 boards, two assists, and one steal in the defeat, while Balanza and Jeo Ambohot both had nine in the failed bid to sweep the series and hand the school its 18th title.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 79 - Canlas 21, Oftana 17, Doliguez 17, Carino 7, Nelle 5, Soberano 5, Cuntapay 3, Tankoua 2, Abuda 2, Bahio 0, Noah 0.
LETRAN 76 - Yu 23, Muyang 17, Batiller 11, Ambohot 9, Balanza 9, Caralipio 7, Olivario 0, Ular 0, Mina 0, Reyson 0, Balagasay 0, Sangalang 0.
Quarters: 18-7, 37-25, 53-56, 79-76.
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