THE San Beda Red Lions roared to their fourth straight title yesterday after scraping past the hard-fighting Letran Knights, 60-56, in the deciding Game 3 of the 89th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the packed Mall of Asia Arena.
It was a tightly-contested game that saw neither team giving an inch. But in the end, it was Nigerian import Ola Adeogun who shut the door on Letran’s title hopes as he blocked the potential game-tying layup by Kevin Racal with 8.6 seconds left. Moments later, Adeogun finished Letran off by making two free-throws to seal their seventh title in eight years and 18th overall, the most in league history.
The Red Lions gained the upper hand early on, racing off to an 18-7 lead. But the Knights retaliated and took a 30-24 halftime lead behind a torid 19-2 run fueled by league MVP Raymund Almazan and shock troopers Kevin Racal and Ford Ruaya.
The two teams scratched and clawed at one another with two free-throws by Racal pulling the Knights within one, 54-55. But Art dela Cruz stepped up to the plate for San Beda and canned a tough turnaround jumper that stretched their lead to three.
A jumper by Ruaya once again closed the gap to one with 56 seconds left but San Beda’s Yvan Ludovice split his free-throws for a 58-56 score. Letran had a shot at tying the game but with star guard Mark Cruz sidelined by cramps, they went to Racal who was stopped by Adeogun.
Dela Cruz was named the Finals MVP after scoring 20 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Adeogun chipped in 17 markers. Almazan scored 14 for the Knights whom he would leave without a title. Rey Nambatac and Cruz added 10 apiece.