Finals-bound

After three years, Letran College is back in the finals of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.

The Knights pulled off a 74-70 victory over University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 semifinals Friday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It will be the first finals appearance in seniors play for Knights head coach Allen Ricardo, who was tasked to call the shots for the seniors squad last year.

“I just told them to take one step at a time and execute our offense. We needed to remain disciplined,” said Ricardo, who won two NCAA titles in the juniors division with Letran.

“I’m thankful and grateful for bringing Letran back to the finals.”

Jonathan Manalili made heads turn after tallying a double-double game of 16 points and 14 assists while Jimboy Estrada fired 11 points.

To make sure they will be ready for the finals, Ricardo said they will watch the do-or-die match between San Beda University and College of Saint Benilde on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“We will go to the Big Dome as a team on Sunday to know who we will face in the finals. We will study the game, especially in the fourth quarter,” Ricardo said.

With the Altas holding a six-point lead, 64-70, the Knights went on a 8-0 run capped off by an Estrada corner triple with 1:41 to go for a 72-70 lead.

Perpetual didn’t score a basket for the remainder of the game and will instead shoot for third place.

Patrick Sleat led the Altas with 17 points, five rebounds and three assists.

In the first game, Ian Torres came to the rescue of Saint Benilde, sinking a game-winning floater, 77-75, over San Beda in Game 2.

Torres, who dropped 17 points for the Blazers, drained his buzzer-beating shot over the defense of Nygel Gonzales and leveled their best-of-three series.

The winner-take-all Game 3 will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

Saint Benilde head coach Charles Tiu praised the team’s composure down the stretch, especially Torres’ initiative to take over the game.

“They didn’t panic today. We could have folded but we didn’t,” Tiu said.

“With regards to Ian, give him all the credit. When we lost in the first game, he texted me if he could start.”

“The funny thing was, I was going to start him even before he texted and it just reaffirmed to me that he wanted to play in the big stage.”

Despite the Lions not fielding rookie Janti Miller due to a contusion on his knee last Tuesday, Tiu had to remind his players they still have to play if they wanted to extend their season.

“I’m not going to lie, I told them: ‘Miller’s not playing.’ We just asked them to fight and they did our jobs today. We weren’t the same Saint Benilde team in the first game,” Tiu said.

Tony Ynot led the Blazers with 19 points while Justine Sanchez had a double-double game of 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Reigning Most Valuable Player Allen Liwag, who was selected for Gilas Pilipinas for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, scored nine points and grabbed 15 boards.

Gonzales led the Lions with 17 points.