Colegio de San Juan de Letran wasted an early lead but found its spark in the third period en route to a 97-80 win against University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in Game 1 of the NCAA Season 99 juniors basketball finals on Saturday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre.
The Squires are now a win away from back-to-back titles and can close out the series on Wednesday to put an end to the Junior Altas’ bid for their breakthrough crown.
Letran was off to a hot start and even led by as many as 13 in the first quarter but the Junior Altas were quick to find their identity, outscoring the Squires in the second frame, 26 to 16, thanks to JD Pagulayan and Lebron Jhames Daep as they took a slim 46-45 lead at the turn.
But the Squires gave them a dose of their own medicine come the third as the Muralla crew pulled away for good.
Syrex Silorio ignited in the third by fueling a massive 17-3 run that allowed the Squires to build a 62-49 lead.
Amiel Acido, who was held scoreless in the first half, tried to rally his side but his 10-point outing in the frame was not enough to erase a double digit deficit.
It was all Letran from that point on as Perpetual, who topped the elimination round with an 8-1 card including a 94-88 win against Letran, could not get any momentum.
Titing Manalili, who already had 20 points in the first half, buried the dagger triple as they fended off Perpetual, 92-76, with still 47 seconds to go.
Manalili ended up finishing with a career-high 35 points on top of nine rebounds and nine assists to flirt with a triple-double while George Diamante unleashed a huge double-double of 12 markers and 16 boards. Silorio chipped in 15 points.
Five Junior Altas actually breaches double-digit scoring with Pagulayan pouring in 17 points while Daep chimed in with 12. Acido, Jan Roluna, and Gojo Cruz each had 10 points in the loss.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
