WATCH
Colegio de San Juan de Letran is out to complete a sweep of the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball tournament even as Mapua University looks to extend the title series when the two teams collide in Game 2 of the NCAA Finals on Sunday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
The Knights, undefeated in 11 games this season, can clinch back-to-back titles with a win in the 3 p.m. match today.
They lead the best-of-three series, 1-0, after a 68-63 win in the opener.
But the Cardinals will be determined to keep that from happening after a heartbreaking a Game 1 where Mapua led for nearly the entire the game before surrendering the lead to Letran in the last 45 seconds of the game.
NCAA 95 Finals MVP Fran Yu and PBA-bound Jeo Ambohot led the clutch endgame performance for the Knights.
"Heart of a champion. Talagang sinabi ko na ito na yung game na hinihintay natin, wag na nating sayangin yung mga sacrifices natin in two months," Letran coach Bonnie Tan said after Game 1.
"Defense is the key, yung fourth quarter points nila naging nine points lang and yun, again, heart of a champion," he added.
But Letran will have some health concerns to deal with as star player Rhenz Abando went down with an injury after a putback dunk attempt in the third quarter of the contest.
If Mapua can force a Game 3, the rubber match will be played next Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
—JMB, GMA News
