UNLIKE its previous two straight title wins, Letran took perhaps a more difficult road in this season’s cage wars.
For starters, the Intramuros-based five lost former star Rhenz Abando to the Korean Basketball League and two more key players in Jeo Ambohot and Allen Mina to the Pro league.
But while Letran looked shaky and beatable in some stretches, it reached the Promised Land anew against a game but outclassed College of St. Benilde side yesterday.
Proving they wanted it more, the Knights carved out an 81-67 victory in the deciding match of the best-of-3 finals duel to bag the 98th NCAA basketball tournament title before a wild and roaring crowd at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Do-it-all forward King Caralipio, named the finals MVP, scattered a game-high 20 points, to go with 10 rebounds and two assists for Letran, while Brent Paraiso chipped in 16 markers, three boards, and two dimes.
Caralipio and Paraiso sang their swan songs for the Knights, along with ace playmaker Fran Yu, who sat out Game 3 due to a suspension.
Kobe Monje also had 11 points, four caroms, and three feeds for Letran, which redeemed itself from a 71-76 loss in Game 2 eight days ago and pulled off a three-peat for the first time since teams that had PBA great Samboy Lim did it from 1982-1984.
The title was the Knights’ 20th overall in the country’s oldest collegiate league.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan admitted his charges had to work doubly hard to keep the title.
“Parang mas mahaba ito. Ang tagal matapos ng 40 minutes and, of course, we lost several players sa season na ito. Iyon iyong difference sa mga dating championship teams natin. Buti nakapag-adjust kami and mga players namin,” Tan said.
“Sa second game we lost our composure sa second half so kanina iyon iyong ayaw naming mangyari. Ang CSB kasi ay very strong lalo na sa second half, (CSB) being the No. 1 offensive team, talagang nag-focus kami sa defense,” he added.
The Knights zoomed to a fast start and took a 51-28 edge on a Sangalang basket at the 2:08 mark of the second quarter and still enjoyed a 51-33 spread at the half.
Letran went into the final stanza with a 70-54 lead before a Migs Oczon free throw pulled CSB to within 67-77 with 1:44 to go.
But that proved to be the Blazers’ most noteworthy stand after reigning MVP Will Gozum was called for a disqualification foul on Pao Javillonar.
Miggy Corteza carried the fight for CSB with 14 points and seven rebounds, while James Pasturan added 10 markers.
Gozum also got 10 points in a foul-plagued outing for the Blazers.
Pasturan and skipper JC Cullar also played their final game for CSB.
