Colegio de San Juan de Letran will seek to build a dynasty while De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde will look to have a date with destiny when the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament comes down to its ultimate game of the season on Sunday for the winner-take-all Game 3.
Game time is at 3 p.m. at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City with Letran vying to cop its third straight championship while Benilde is eyeing to end a 22-year title drought.
The Knights and the Blazers split the first two games after the reigning champions eked out a dominant 81-75 victory in Game 1 where Louie Sangalang, King Caralipio, and Kurt Reyson took over as they moved on the cusp of the crown.
But that Taft crew made sure not to absorb a sweep, carving out a 76-71 triumph to even out the series. Will Gozum proved why he's the Season MVP as he steered the Blazers to the Game 2 win alongside Miggy Corteza and Migs Oczon.
And it will all boil down to one last game.
Benilde head coach Charles Tiu stressed that while the momentum is on their side, they can't just count the defending champions out as the Knights are tipped to go all out.
"I don't know whose momentum is this kasi you can say we have the momentum pero sila 'yung champion team eh. They don't panic at all e," Tiu said.
"Even if may run na kami, wala, composed na composed sila. I can't say we have the momentum, I think even lang talaga."
Letran, meanwhile, will be an incomplete team come the do-or-die match as team captain Fran Yu will serve his one-game suspension after a disqualifying four he sustained in the previous game.
And head coach Bonnie Tan admitted it will be a challenge to play without their main gunner, whose leadership greatly boosted the team all season long.
"Ang biggest challenge is playing without a leader sa loob ng court. Alam naman natin kung ano 'yung nabibigay ni Fran Yu, na isang leader namin."
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
