Guillian Quines made sure to return in style as De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde - La Salle Green Hills dethroned Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 78-77, to advance to the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball finals on Wednesday.
The senior guard buried the game-winning layup with 6.5 seconds left in the fourth period as the Greenies erased the twice-to-beat advantage of the Squires.
Quines, who was suspended in Game 1, posted a game-high 28 points to go with five rebounds, three assists, six steals, and one block to carry the Greenies back to the finals after two years.
They will take on top-seeded University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in the championship round.
"Sabi ko sa teammates ko na nandito na kami, kailangan na lang naming sulitin and enjoy-in 'yung moment so 'yung pressure hinandle lang namin," Quines said.
"Sabi sa'kin ni coach na maglaro lang ako, 'yung mga trashtalk tanggalin ko na 'yun. Sabi niya focus lang talaga sa game and darating din sa'yo 'yung hinahanap mo."
However, it wasn’t just a one-man show for LSGH.
The Greenies erased a double-digit deficit after unleashing a huge second half, including a James Ison layup that gave them their first taste of lead at 67-66 with still 7:36 to play in fourth.
Gian Gomez, the hero in Game 1, continued his heroics after firing a three-pointer for a 70-68 cushion before Letran’s Justine Hugo came up clutch. Hugo first sank a layup before he completed a three-point play to cut the deficit to one, 76-75, in the final 54.4 seconds.
Daniel Padilla, who dropped 18 points in the first half but went cold in second half, redeemed his shooting on the line with two huge free throws that saw Letran regaining a 77-76 advantage with 10.9 ticks left.
But with more than enough time to spare, Benilde-LSGH was able to design a game-winning play for Quines, denying the Squires their three-peat bid.
Gomez posted 15 points, two rebounds, four assists, and three steals while Arle Podador chipped in 14 markers, four boards, two steals, and one dime.
Padila paced Letran with 20 points, nine rebounds, and three steals while Hugo and Daryl Valdeavilla churned out 19 and 14 markers apiece.
Scores:
Benilde-LSGH 78 - Quines 28, Gomez 15, Podador 14, Ison 9, Sharma 5, Ortega 2, Yutuc 2, Osis 2, Abad 1.
Letran 77 - Padilla 20, Hugo 19, Valdeavilla 14, Cargo 5, Silorio 4, Villanueva 4, Alforque 4, Pico 3, Cruz 2, Quijada 2, Quiñones 0, Lumaga 0.
Quarters: 17-22, 38-45, 60-60, 78-77.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
