Lions stay alive

We just really trusted our coach, and our teammates, we got lucky.

JAMES Canlas and San Beda escape Letran to keep their title hopes alive. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd

San Beda University salvaged its championship hopes as it outdueled Letran College, 79-76, in Game 2 of their Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball best-of-three finals series last night at the jampacked Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

The Red Lions banked on their Most Valuable Player (MVP) Calvin Oftana, who completed a three-point play in the closing minute and San Beda had to watch Bonbon Batiller muffed an easy undergoal stab to tie the series.

James Canlas led the way for the Red Lions with 21 points and seven rebounds while Oftana and Clint Doliguez each had 17 markers for the defending champions.

“My players wanted to prove something today,” San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez said.

“Letran really prepared for us. We just got lucky that Fran Yu had cramps. But a win is a win, we will take this one,” he added added.

With their season on the line, the Red Lions banked on their MVP Oftana who barreled his way inside and completed a three-play off Batiller to give San Beda a 77-76 lead with 19.1 seconds left.

The Knights had a chance to reclaim the lead after Jerrick Balanza found Batiller underneath the basket unguarded but the combo guard’s reverse lay-up was way off the target and Canlas’ two free throws pushed their lead back to 79-76 with 5.1 seconds left.

Letran had one more chance to send the game to overtime but Balanza’s outlet pass to Allen Mina was too strong and the Red Lions staved off elimination.

“We just really trusted our coach, and our teammates, we got lucky,” said Oftana, the first MVP from San Beda since Sudan Daniel in 2010.

Fran Yu led Letran with 23 points and five assists but cramps sidelined him in crucial moments of the game.

Larry Muyang tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights while Batiller had 11 but missed the potential game-winning basket.

Letran recovered from a sizzling 15-0 start by the Red Lions but Batiller and company put their team back and answered with a 15-3 assault to trail 15-18 at the end of the first period.

Trailing the half, 25-37, the Knights then turned to Yu, who caught fire and anchored a 19-4 rally to give them a 44-41 lead with 4:42 left in the third period.

Yu’s triple gave Letran a 56-53 advantage but Oftana, Doliguez and Canlas teamed up for San Beda’s strong finish to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Tuesday also at the Pasay City venue.

Meanwhile, Lyceum of the Philippines University also forced a winner-take-all match in the juniors division after shocking the Red Cubs, 79-74, in Game 2 of their own best-of-three title showdown.

Mclaude Guadania led the Junior Pirates with 19 points and seven rebounds. Jaerolan Omandac and John Barba also contributed 18 and 14 points, respectively, for Lyceum.