LETRAN survived both RK Ilagan’s scoring display and San Sebastian College’s fourth-quarter push to nab the victory, 85-80, and eliminate the Golden Stags in the stepladder semifinals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.
The Knights led the Stags by as many as 17 points in third quarter, 62-52, but found themselves in a close match as Ilagan went ablaze in the final frame after scoring 13 of his 36 points to trim the double-digit deficit to just one, 80-81, with 1:30 left in the game.
King Caralipio stopped the bleeding by sinking a clutch basket, 83-80, before Fran Yu drained two free throws to seal the deal with 10.4 seconds remaining.
“A win is a win,” Letran Coach Boni Tan said. “We have to check on that [plays] kasi for the series this year we’re always winning the rebounds, but today were out rebounded.”
The Knights will face the No. 2 Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates on Friday in another do-or-die battle. The winner will then advance to meet the defending champion San Beda Red Lions in a three-game championship series.
Both teams had a sluggish start, until they started to trading baskets from beyond the arc. The Knights managed to take a three-point edge courtesy of a Larry Muyang basket, 23-20, to end the first quarter.
Letran started to pull away in the three-minute mark of the second quarter as Bonbon Batiller sparked a 11-0 run to lead by 12, 44-32.
Jerrick Balanza paced Letran with 15 points, Batiller had 14 points, while Allen Mina (12), Muyang (11), Ato Ular (10), and Fran Yu (10) all had significant contributions.
Aside from Ilagan, Allyn Bulanadi struggled with a five-of-17 shooting to finish with 15 points, along with seven boards for the Stags. Ryniel Berlanga
Image credits: Roy Domingo