LETRAN rookie coach Allen Ricardo spent eight years as an assistant at La Salle Green Hills.
In a twist of fate, Ricardo’s Squires reached the Promised Land at the expense of the Greenies yesterday.
Propped up by a fast start and a sustained charge, Letran ripped La Salle Green Hills 77-61 in Game 2 of their best-of-3 finals battle and bagged the 98th NCAA juniors’ basketball tournament crown at the San Andres Sports Complex.
Jovel Baliling showed the way for the Squires with 19 points, to go with four rebounds and two assists; while Jonathan Manalili backed him up with 16 markers, eight boards and seven dimes.
Andy Gemao, later named the finals MVP, also had 14 points, five caroms, and two feeds, while June Silorio added 12 points and four rebounds as Letran scored a fitting follow up to an 85-81 decision in the finals’ opener four days ago.
The emphatic triumph enabled the Squires to end a 22-year title dry spell.
They last won it all in 2001 behind a team bannered by PBA player RJ Jazul and now retired pro league cagers Jay-R Reyes and JC Intal and coached by Jing Ruiz.
“Well, of course, matagal ako sa La Salle Green Hills. I spent eight years doon but I’m thankful and grateful na doon ako nag-grow,” Ricardo said. “Siyempre nandoon iyong we will anticipate na iyong other teams they will find a way to match up against us next season.
“So, magpapalakas pa rin iyong mga bata. We will continue kung ano iyong nasimulan namin and hindi kami hihinto kahit nakuha namin ito (title),” he added.
The young guns from Intramuros took a 38-28 lead at the half that ballooned to 56-44 heading into the final stanza.
Newly-minted season MVP Luis Pablo paced the Greenies with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Rod Alian had 13 markers and four boards.
Seven Gagate and CJ Mesias also contributed 11 and 10 points, respectively, for La Salle Green Hills.
