Colegio de San Juan de Letran fended off Arellano University’s fourth quarter storm to hack out an 85-79 win in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 101 juniors basketball finals on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Squires went on a 12-5 closing run, highlighted by two clutch three-pointers from Nathan Egea, to dispose of the Braves and draw first blood in their best-of-three finals affair.
Egea led the charge with 19 points laced with six rebounds, four assists, and one steal while Don Valdeavilla and Justin Cargo chipped in 19 and 12 markers each as the Squires near their third title in four seasons.
But it wasn't without a scare as Arellano erased a 38-50 halftime deficit with MVP frontrunner Sean Franco hitting a triple to regain a 51-50 lead before Ray Ladica's three-point play saw the Braves securing a 63-60 cushion ahead of the fourth.
Axel Mendoza then hit a layup for a slim 74-73 lead in the fourth, but it was all Letran from that point on.
Egea buried back-to-back three-pointers in the final 1:47 to create a five-point separation from an Arellano side known for its clutch genes, 81-76.
Egea and Cargo sank a pair of free throws each to seal the deal as the Braves faded in the endgame to surrender the series opener.
The loss spoiled a monster double-double outing from Franco, who posted 19 points and 17 rebounds while Ladica and Aaron Manansala chipped in 22 and 13 markers each.
WATCH NCAA:
The scores:
Letran 85 - Egea 19, Valdeavilla 19, Cargo 12, Chua 8, Villanueva 7, Pascual 6, Lumague 6, Dahino 4, Macadangdang 4, Pascual 0, Mesina 0, Gabinete 0.
Arellano 79 - Ladica 22, Franco 19, Manansala 13, Dy 10, Mendoza 7, Pillas 6, Baluyot 2, Vergara 0, Sapo 0, Aurita 0, Tagorda 0.
Quarters: 22-19, 50-38, 60-63, 85-79.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
