To be the best, you must beat the best.
For De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde - La Salle Green Hills, the road to glory meant toppling two-time defending champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball Final Four — all while facing a twice-to-win disadvantage.
And for head coach Renren Ritualo, it meant beating an old teammate in Willie Miller, who now calls the shots for the Squires.
Ritualo and Miller used to play together for the flag in 2005 before they wore the same uniform in the defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL) with Tanduay.
They went on bringing their acts to the PBA, but played on opposite sides. Years later, they would get to reunite in the NCAA, this time as coaches of their respective teams.
"We’re teammates in the national team and the amateur sa Tanduay. It feels good [to reunite with him in the NCAA] kasi we’re good friends," Ritualo told GMA News Online.
"Coach Willie and I are friends and then we worked together so it was very exciting, it was tough. I give it all to coach Willie and Letran Squires because they put up a gallant fight."
Ritualo's Greenies had the last laugh after they dethroned the Squires despite facing challenges along the road.
In Game 1, Ritualo even missed the game alongside star guard Guillian Quines as they both served suspensions due to ejection in the previous game against EAC. Still, they managed to pull off a 78-74 overtime victory.
With a complete roster in the deciding Game 2, the Greenies had to crawl back from a deficit as big as 10 points, and it was Quines who saved the day, sinking a tough layup with 6.5 seconds left to carry the Greenies back to the finals after two years.
They also have the chance to end an eight-year title drought.
Game 1 of the Finals against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will be played on Friday, 2:30 p.m., at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
