Letran made sure to deliver the coup de grace as it repulsed University of Perpetual Help, 93-76, yesterday to complete a back-to-back title reign in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
June Silorio bounced back from his nightmarish Game Two effort when he missed a pair of crucial charities that would have sealed the deal had he made both and delivered a performance to remember with 27 points, six assists and five rebounds.
That magnificent effort by the proud son of Marbel helped power the Squires to a second straight crown and 14th overall, the third most in the grand old league behind San Beda’s 23 and Mapua’s 20.
Moses Manalili did just enough to help the Dominican school win with 19 points, six steals and five assists.
The talented spitfire guard from Cebu, who had 35 in a 97-80 Game One win but fizzled out in Game Two when he had only 12 in a 91-90 defeat, later on was deservingly award the Finals MVP plum.
Letran coach Allen Ricardo said their recent feat was the result of the triumph of the spirit after losing key players from the champion team last year and being counted out in the pre-season.
“This is so sweet to us kasi wala nag eexpect samin papasok sa Final Four and go to the championship,” said Ricardo, who thanked the Letran community and all their supports including patrons Frank and Jacob Lao of Strong Group Athletics.
“Sabi ko lang sa mga bata trabahuhin lang natin para wala tayo regrets,” he added.
The game also produced heroes in Daniel Padilla, who chipped in 17 points, and Mythical Team member George Diamante, who toyed with a triple-double before finishing with nine points, 11 boards and eight dimes.
But none was biggest than Silorio on this one as he came through with the most decisive blows that somehow buried the ghost of Game Two memorialized by that painful pair of free throw misses in the dying seconds that forced this deciding Game Three.
While the Squires was in jubilation, the Jr. Altas went home melancholic as they came one win away from claiming their breakthrough high school cage championship.
The scores:
Letran 93- Silorio 27, Manalili 19, Padilla 17, Diamante 9, Baliling 7, Navarro 5, Hugo 5, Cruz 3, Villanueva 1, Gazzingan 0, Alforque 0
UPHSD 76- Callangan 16, Pagulayan 16, Acido 16, Gojo Cruz 9, Roluna 5, Daep 4, Borja 3, Asuncion 3, Valencia 2, Diaz 2, Salvo 0, Baldoria 0
Quarterscores: 24-18; 49-38; 69-58; 93-76