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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Basketball devider The Squires are kings of NCAA juniors after 22 years

The Squires are kings of NCAA juniors after 22 years

Published Mar 16, 2023 09:10 am
At last, the long and agonizing wait has finally come to an end as the Squires claimed their rightful throne.  Letran asserted its mastery over the CSB- La Salle Greenhills with a convincing 77-61 victory in Game 2 of the Finals to bag the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball crown on Thursday, March 16 at the San Andres Sports Complex. *Mythical Five member and Finals MVP Andrei Gemao goes for a two-handed flush (NCAA-GMA Photo)*

Riding the crest of their huge 85-81 Game 1 win, the Squires made sure to not let history slip away from their hands as they came out with a strong first half before putting up an even better finish to end a 22-year title drought. The Squires also made their share in another history as Letran won the title both in the seniors’ and juniors’ basketball tournaments for the first time in 40 years or since the feat had been done in 1983 and first in 1979. Jovel Baliling showed the way with 19 points spiked by five triples – none bigger than the last one he drilled from the right corner that stretched Letran’s lead to 13, 59-46 early in the final frame. That booming triple was part of a searing 13-4 run bridging the last two quarters that completely slammed the door on the Greenies comeback hopes after cutting the lead down to just six, 50-44 late in the third frame. Jonathan Manalili provided an all-around showing with 16 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while Mythical Five member and Finals MVP Andrei Gemao finished with 14 points.  George Diamante also did the dirty work for the Squires as despite scoring only one point collared 13 rebounds while holding his own against CSB’s twin towers of Manuel Pablo and Seven Gagate. Pablo led the Greenies with 20 points and 14 rebounds while Gagate added 11 points and 18 rebounds which all went down the drain as they failed to force a winner-take-all Game 3.

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NCAA Season 98 Letran Squires Andrei Gemao NCAA Season 98 Juniors basketball
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