Colegio de San Juan de Letran and University of Perpetual Help System DALTA will clash for the NCAA juniors basketball title in the do-or-die Game 3 of the tournament finals on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Squires took Game 1 of the finals, 97-80, then the Junior Altas equalized in Game 2, 91-90.
Most Valuable Player Amiel Acido was crucial in the Game 2 win as he made the game-winning triple en route to his 19-point outing for the Junior Altas.
Syrex Siloio, on the other hand, top-scored the Squires with 20 points, but missed the free throws which could have tied the game or delivered the win for the Intramuros-based squad.
Junior Altas head coach Joph Cleopas is expecting an all-out game from the Squires.
"I expect na it will not be very easy because they are a champion team. Their coaching staff are really winners," Cleopas said.
"We'll just give our best and this coming Saturday, ilalabas na lahat ng Letran. Isa ko lang masasabi is God-willing, ibigay sa amin. If not, glory to God pa rin."
(I expect that it will not be very easy because they are a champion team. Their coaching staff are really winners... We'll just give our best this Saturday, Letran will give it all. All I can say is God-willing, it will be provided. If not, glory to God still.)
For Squires head coach Allen Ricardo, they need to regroup as the momentum of the series shifted on Perpetual's side.
"Dahil nga nawala ‘yung aggressiveness namin [sa Game 2], kailangan maging aggressive kami. Nawala ‘yung energy namin, hindi namin na-sustain ‘yung energy namin. Dapat in Game 3, taasan namin ‘yung energy namin. I’m looking forward to Game 3," he said.
(Since we lost our aggressiveness, we need to be aggressive. Our energy was not sustained. We need to exert more energy. I'm looking forward to Game 3.)
Game 3 of the finals on Saturday will be played at 9:30 a.m. The game will also be streamed on the social media platforms of GMA Sports and NCAA Philippines.
—with reports from Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News
