In a Game 1 Finals that was plagued with intense physicality and a couple of injuries, defending champion Letran prevailed over the top-ranked College of St. Benilde with a nail-biting 81-75 win on Sunday, Dec. 4, in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Kurt Reyson, King Caralipio, and Louie Sangalang connived down the stretch to make crucial plays for the Knights before Miggy Corteza, who was already suffering from cramps, tried to pump life for the Blazers.
But Letran still got its full force in the form of Kurt Reyson, rookie Rafael Go, and Fran Yu as they put the nail in the coffin to take Game 1 of the Finals in front of 8,284 spectators at the Big Dome.
Sangalang led the Knights with 24 points and 10 rebounds while Caralipio hammered down 16 points.
Reyson, who finished with 13 points built on three treys along with four rebounds, hit a triple which enabled the Knights to slightly put some distance against the Blazers before Caralipio followed up with another basket en route to a 75-69 lead with 5:30 left.
Letran was eager to pull away as Sangalang split his free throw in the ensuing play after JC Cullar missed both of his free throws in that sequence.
Corteza then came alive for CSB and made two straight baskets to put the game within a one-game possession, 76-73, in the last three minutes.
After Yu fired blanks from the free throw line, Go showed no rookie jitters, secured the offensive rebound, and even drained one of his two free throws with 2:03 remaining for a 77-73 cushion.
When both teams couldn't convert in the next plays, Reyson made one of the crucial plays of the game by forcing an offensive foul on Will Gozum, who was just trying to provide a screen with 35.6 ticks left.
That play proved costly for the Blazers as Yu, who also delivered seven points, five rebounds, and five assists, this time around showed steely nerves to sink two free throws with 23.4 seconds to go to ice the game.
Jimboy Pasturan split his shot from the charity stripe for St. Benilde's last scoring attempt before Tom Olivario also made two free throws for Letran's final conversion.
Gozum paced the Blazers with 18 points and 11 rebounds while Corteza also scored 18 points.
Game 2 is set next Sunday, Dec. 11, at the same venue.
The Scores:
LETRAN 81 -- Sangalang 24, Caralipio 16, Reyson 13, Paraiso 9, Yu 7, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Santos 2, Go 1, Tolentino 0, Monje 0, Ariar 0.
CSB 75 -- Gozum 18, Corteza 18, Sangco 10, Nayve 9, Marcos 7, Pasturan 4, Oczon 3, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Lepalam 2, Flores 0, Sumabat 0.
Quarters: 25-21, 52-50, 66-67, 81-75.