Letran Knights extends championship streak to three after defeating the CSB Blazers in game 3 of the NCAA S98 Men’ Basketball Finals.
Like the saying “If it’s meant to be, it will be” goes, the Letran Knights forged their way into a physical three-game series against the glory-seeking College of Saint Benilde Blazers to clinch an elusive three-peat in the NCAA Season 98 Seniors Basketball Tournament.
Ending the Cinderella run of CSB, the Knights proved to be too strong and too deep for the resurging CSB as they played the game of their lives to notch the title, 81-67, in front of a out crowd on December 18, at Ynares Center Antipolo.
Despite being unable to call the Letran squad an underdog this season, the team faced trials all season long with suspensions of players and other factors, with the biggest hit on the team as they lost Fran Yu after a disqualifying foul in the second game and had to face the Blazers without their floor general.
Coming from head coach Bonnie Tan himself, who orchestrated the three-peat of Letran, he admitted that this championship had to be the most challenging.
“Palagi ko sinasabi na I’m proud of my players,” said Tan, reported Tiebreaker Times, in an interview after winning the championship. “Mula sa third stringers namin hanggang sa mga graduating players, proud ako kahit ano mangyari kahit manalo o matalo kami.
“From the start, alam naman nating lahat na from the start, hirap na hirap kami, we had a depleted lineup. With the coaches, na solve naman natin kahit papano,” the newly named Coach of the Year added.
But it can be debated that the Blazers played some of their worst games this season during the finals series as they failed to show the dominance and composure that the team had been displaying all throughout the elimination round.
Reigning MVP Will Gozum might be the biggest factor in the third game as aside from a very limited score production only tallying 10 points, Gozum was also slapped with a disqualifying foul with 1:44 left in the game.
Meaning, if Gozum decides to return for another season in the NCAA, he will have to serve a one-game suspension due to a late headbutt to rival big man Pao Javillonar, reported PNA.
After a grueling match between the two teams, a couple of players savored their time playing in the NCAA as they have already played their last match of their collegiate career which includes Yu, Brent Paraiso, King Caralipio, Louie Sangalang, and Tommy Olivario on the Letran side, while JC Cullar and Jimboy Pasturan are the graduating players for CSB.
Tags: #NCAA, #Letran, #Basketball