The Letran Knights celebrate with team manager Manny Pacquio after they win this year’s championship of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. The Knights defeated the San Beda Red Lions in overtime, 85-82, to win their first crown in 10 years.
Cebuano big man Jomari Sollano played the game of his life and capped it off with the go-ahead basket in overtime that lifted the Letran Knights to a heart-pounding 85-82 overtime win over the mighty San Beda Red Lions in the deciding Game Three to claim the championship in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament last night at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena.
The 6-foot-4 Sollano, a former stalwart of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Panthers in the Cesafi, calmly canned a perimeter jumper from the baseline with 32.6 seconds remaining in the extra session to put the Knights in front, 83-82.
Then after a fantastic defensive stand, Sollano was fouled and made the first free-throw before missing the second.
However, a double-lane violation was called and the Knights regained possession after which Mark Cruz sealed Letran’s first crown in 10 years with a free-throw with 3.7 ticks left.
The victory put an end to San Beda’s six-year title reign as Letran won the best-of-three series, 2-1.
The Alaska Aces-bound Kevin Racal scored 23 to lead Letran while Sollano finished with 19 points and seven rebounds. Cruz added 14 markers, six boards and seven assists. Rey Nambatac also made up for his scoreless stint in Game Two by scoring 13 yesterday.
“Thank you to the Letran community. Para sa inyo ito. Tama na yung sakit,” said a jubilant Aldin Ayo, Letran’s head coach, after the match.
It was a hard-earned win for the Knights in what was a thrilling finale to an intense series. Letran had the inside track to the title in front of 20,158 fans as they led, 65-57, after consecutive three-pointers by veterans Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz. But San Beda did not lay down and rallied behind Baser Amer who scored in transition, assisted on a basket by Ola Adeogun and stole the ball and went all the way in for the equalizing lay-in with 13 ticks left.
San Beda looked headed to the win as they led, 82-79, after a floater by Amer with 1:26 to go. But Racal closed the gap with two free-throws before Sollano pulled Letran ahead with his clutch make.
Art dela Cruz and Baser Amer closed out their college careers with stellar performances. Dela Cruz, headed to Blackwater, had 15 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, a steal and two blocks while Meralco draft pick Amer added 14 and seven assists.
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