Colegio de San Juan de Letran closed out their semifinals series against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 74-70, Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Guard Jimboy Estrada finished the game with 11 points, including the go-ahead basket to complete the Knights’ comeback in the final canto and send them to their first Finals series since winning the title in Season 98.
Rising star guard Titing Manalili continued his stellar play in the playoffs, this time notching a monstrous double-double of 16 points and 14 assists.
Alongside their crucial shot-making, the Intramurous-based squad played outstanding defense on Perpetual, only allowing them to score six points the whole fourth quarter.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, Letran were still playing catch up being down 10, 54-64.
Momentum then started to shift in favor of the Knights when Deo Cuajao drilled back-to-back threes to inch his team closer, 60-64.
The Letran onslaught would not end there however, as they would go on a run while shutting down the Altas, 10-0, in the final five minutes of the game.
Perpetual still had two more chances at the end to salvage the game courtesy of Patrick Sleat and John Abis, but the Letran defense held firm whilst June Roque hit two free throws put the game out of UPHSD’s reach, 74-70.
"I'm thankful and grateful for this opportunity to lead the team in bringing back Letran in the Season 101 championship," Letran head coach Allen Ricardo said.
The Knights now await their fellow title challenger as San Beda University and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde juke it out for a place in the finals on Saturday.
Patrick Sleat led the Altas with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Meanwhile Mark Gojo Cruz and John Abis also produced 15 and 10 points each, with the latter also grabbing 11 boards.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
