I was embarrassed because all we needed was one shot — just one good shot — to become champion.

BONBON Batiller breaks down in tears after muffing the potential game-winning basket. DAVID JOHN CUBANGBANG @tribunephl_dvd

Letran College vowed to storm back and win the crown following a heart-breaking loss to San Beda University in Game 2 of their Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament late Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Skipper Jerrick Balanza said they are putting their dismal setback behind and just focus on coming up strong to finally with the title in Game 3 on Tuesday at the same Pasay venue.

After being buried and fighting back in the first three quarters, Balanza found Bonbon Batiller wide open underneath for the potential game-winning basket in the final seven seconds.

But instead of easily converting it, Battiler lost handle of the leather, allowing the Red Lions to gain control of possession and dribble their way to a 79-76 victory.

Battiler admitted that collapsing in the most crucial part of his collegiate career was painful.

“I was embarrassed because all we needed was one shot — just one good shot — to become champion,” said Batiller, one of the key stalwarts of Letran coach Bonnie Tan.

“But I missed it. That’s why I feel bad. For me, I was the reason why we lost and why we have to play in Game 3.”

Batiller added that his teammates were all very positive.

“In fact, I didn’t hear anybody from the team blaming me,” he said, heaving a sigh of relief.

“That’s how I admire my teammates. That’s how much they love me and how much I love them. They didn’t say anything negative. All they said were positive thoughts and encouraged me to bounce back in Game 3.”

True enough, that’s exactly how Balanza thinks.

“As a captain, I take the loss positively. I know it will just make our championship much sweeter. We will own this (Game 3) and we will win the title,” said Balanza, who is no stranger to winning after being part of the squad that won the crown in 2015 under Aldin Ayo.

The sweet-shooting forward said he is lauding his teammates for a job well-done, where they fought back from 15 points down to push the reigning champion on the brink of one of the biggest upsets in Philippine collegiate basketball.

Fran Yu, the hero in their Game 1 victory, again caught fire exploding for 23 points to engineer a furious Letran fightback.

Unfortunately, he was reduced into a mere cheerleader in the crucial stretch after suffering from cramps.

“It was really unfortunate,” said Yu, the former University of the East standout who blossomed into a star and was awarded as the league’s Most Improved Player.

“As much as I want to get back into the court and contribute, the cramps were just getting worse. I could barely move.”

Yu, however, stressed that the battle is still far from over.

“We have to give more energy, more hustle. We got outrebounded once again,” Yu said.

“But we will go back to training tomorrow and prepare even further. It’s going to be an all-out practice. We will not quit until we win the title.”