Nathan Egea dropped a double-double to lift Colegio de San Juan de Letram to a 77-69 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College in do-or-die Game 3 of the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball semifinals on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Egea posted 21 points and 10 rebounds laced with two assists, while Mico Pascual and Justin Cargo chipped in 17 and 15 markers as the Squires marched back to the finals stage.
With the win, Letran arranged a best-of-three championship series with Arellano University, which outlasted Mapua University earlier in the day to make the finals again after 10 years.
Letran also has a shot at redemption following a finals absence last season after bowing to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde- La Salle Green Hills despite holding a twice-to-beat bonus.
Egea and Cargo hit a triple each as the Squires turned a slim 60-61 deficit to a 67-60 lead in the fourth quarter before Bonus sank a pair of free throws pull Mapua to within five, 64-69.
Big man Dhale Lumague then knock down two crucial baskets before Egea sealed the deal to steer Letran back to the big stage, hoping to win the school's third title in four seasons.
Bonus led EAC with 22 points, six rebounds, four assists, and three steals while Noel Lanceta and Kelly Coronel chipped in 13 and 12 markers in the heartbreaking end to their campaign.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
