There is not a single day that Coach Louie Alas ceases to pray for championship. This time, however, his prayers have been answered.

Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) sets another record in history with a total of 16 championship crowns. This season’s title is an addition to Letran’s trademark of supremacy in basketball.

Let our journey to the crown be remembered as The Lance gives you a recap of its extensive coverage of the championship saga.

It takes the ability to fly to be team captain, as Knight Frederick Rodriguez goes.

September 19: PCU draws first blood

Philippine Christian University (PCU) takes Game One of the best-of-three finals of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) via a 79-74 triumph against the Knights. The predominant Letran crowd at the Araneta Coliseum was stunned after the final buzzer was heard. Reserve Jason Castro led the assault by scoring 12 of his 21 in the last four minutes of the game.

The highly anticipated match-up between the two most recent NCAA champions was closely fought right from the start. It’s been a seesaw battle from the tip-off with Letran leading after the first quarter, 20-19, and PCU Dolphins reclaiming the lead at halftime, 25-22.

During an interview after the game, the first word that came out from the mouth of multi-titled mentor Junel Baculi of PCU was “lucky.” “It was a lucky win,” he said.

He added, “Despite the loss of Gabby Espinas as well as Joel Solis and Caloy Cecilia, and all the bad breaks that came in our way, we showed the heart of a true champion.”

Last year’s Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Gabby Espinas was disqualified with 6:44 remaining in the final period with the score 68-55 in favor of the Knights. Espinas’ final foul came after he hit Letran’s Jonathan Aldave behind the three-point arc. Aldave missed all three free throws but got the offensive rebound and made a baby hook that stretched the lead to five.

Castro led a decisive11-0 run that brought back the lead to PCU, 70-76, and subsequently assured them the victory. With the win in Game One, the Dolphins moved one win closer to a back-to-back title. Baculi told reporters that the first thing that he told his wards in the dugout was “Winning Game One is something, but you need to win another game for the championship.”

"I can fly too," says Knight John Paul Alcaraz.

Letran forces rubber match

“The battle is far from over.”

That was Letran Knights head coach Louie Alas’ statement after conquering Game Two, as they walloped the PCU Dolphins, 78-60, to tie the 81st NCAA Seniors’ Basketball Finals series to 1-1 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Letran’s Frederick Rodriguez exploded for eight points at the opening quarter for the Knights. Beau Belga of the Dolphins answered Rodriguez as he scattered six markers. Holding a 17-9 lead, the Knights squandered opportunities as they allowed the Dolphins to catch up, with the quarter ending with 19-16 in favor of the Knights.

At the second quarter, the Knights charged ahead, leading by as much as10. Late at the 2nd quarter, PCU’s Robert Sanz and CSJL’s Mark Andaya got into a scuffle down and were both charged with technical fouls. On the freethrow-shooting contest that followed, the Knights got the upper-hand capped by Boyet Bautista’s completion of a rare four-point play.

At halftime, Letran erected a lead that earned them an assurance of victory at the finishing. An impressive interior defense drowned the Dolphins, keeping them scoreless for the first six minutes of the third quarter. Espinas’ putback finally ended the Dolphins’ drought. However, the exploits of Bautista kept the Knights on the lead and Letran erected a 16 point lead at the end of the third quarter.

The Dolphins, under dire straits, turned to NCAA Mythical Five member Gabriel Espinas for redemption. However, with little support from his teammates, Espinas’ 21 points were not enough to stop an impending Knights victory. To make matters worse for the Dolphins, PCU’s Game One hero Jason Castro fouled out at the middle of the fourth quarter, which further dimmed PCU’s hopes. With two minutes remaining, PCU head coach Baculi called back to the bench his starting five, as the Knights cruised to a 78-60 victory, forcing a rubber match for the NCAA Seniors’ Basketball Championship.

The Knights and the Dolphins squared off on the deciding Game Three to determine who would be crowned NCAA Season 81 Seniors’ basketball champion.

Alumni Cheerleaders give present members of the Letran Cheering Squad a show to die for.

Arriba showdown

One of the many things that made Letran an institution of loyalty and solidarity is through the consistent awesome display of camaraderie shown by the alumni and the students on every occasion. But this time in the championship, the alumni proved what dugong Arriba means.

At halftime in game two and three, the Dugong Arriba Cheerleading team cheered for the Knights as the big dome was engulfed with Letran’s heart-pumping claps and yells.

Steve Maningat of HS 76, an alumnus cheerleader said, “We want to do our share in this match. We want to show the Letranites today that we are the Letran alumni, committed and dedicated to serve our alma mater through our talents.
The moment of truth

As the remaining seconds turned to zero, Letran coach Loiue Alas and the Knights, for a moment, seemed lost in eternal bliss after they magnificently brought back the sports glory to Intramuros from the PCU Dolphins.

There is no one from the Knights who made it to the mythical five, but for as long as the crown is theirs, that is enough fulfillment for them this season.

Alas, who was declared Coach of the Year, said, “Wala akong iniisip kundi ang i-motivate ang mga players. It feels good kasi grabeng sakripisiyo ang ginawa namin.”

The Knights made decisive runs to keep the Dolphins at bay through the consistent shooting spree of Finals MVP and court general Bautista with Most Improved Players Aaron Aban and John Paul Alcaraz.

The Dolphins made a close encounter in the third quarter, 43-41, with Castro and Defensive Player of the Year Espinas at the helm. However, “Bigmac” Andaya, Frederick Rodriguez, and Jonathan Aldave combined their efforts to outlast the Dolphins in the final minutes as the buzzer sealed the score, 62–54.
Aaron Aban said, “Sobrang saya talaga. Lahat ng pagsisikap naming nasuklian. In-offer namin ang panalo nato sa Diyos, sa aming pamilya at sa Letran.

Analysis

Letran’s triumph at the 81st NCAA Seniors’ Basketball Finals could be attributed to one thing: Defense.

Letran’s sticky interior defense prevented the Dolphins from scoring easy baskets under the rim. Andaya’s constant guarding of Espinas prevented the Dolphins from imposing his presence down the paint easily. Furthermore, Letran’s perimeter defense prevented the Dolphins from scoring a single tray at Game Two, and kept PCU’s three-point percentage to a dismal 22 percent.
If there was one Dolphin who was AWOL, it was pointguard Ramon Retaga, Jr. Retaga was held to just four points per game (PPG) during the Finals, from seven PPG on the regular season. Bautista and Alcaraz’s defense against the PCU pointguard weakened Retaga’s stint.