With the game tied at 84 with less than a minute left, CJ Mesias saved the day for College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills.
At the 26.9 second mark, Mesias went down to the LSGH side and made perhaps what could be the biggest shot of his young career as he drilled a triple to give Greenies the victory.
That game-winner that brought the Mandaluyong-based squad back to promise land before James Ison's free throws eventually eliminated the twice-to-beat San Beda Red Cubs team.
For head coach Renren Ritualo, it was the players who should really be given credit for the win.
"I give it all to my players, they really performed, they really dug deep," Ritualo told the media on Thursday after their 89-85 win in the do-or-die Final Four which gave them a ticket to the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball finals.
"Talagang they made an effort doon sa ginawa namin," he said.
But for him personally, the job is still far from over.
"It's always big going to the Finals. The job is not yet done. Siyempre gusto natin manalo sa championship. Malaking bagay, [it's a] big honor for us, but sasabihin ko ulit it's not yet done," he said.
In handling a team with talents such as Mesias, Seven Gagate, Luis Pablo, and Rod Alian, Ritualo said his job, even before the season started, was just to bring out their potential.
"I'm very optimistic [before the start of the season] because we have the tallest guys and the guards are also solid. Makikita mo 'yung potential, my job was to bring out that potential, maximize it, to make it blossom to be here in the finals," said Ritualo,
And with the guards stepping up in the endgame, Ritualo could not help but appreciate their efforts.
"I really appreciate their game, they gave their all. Kahit anong nangyari di sila bumitaw, I really appreciate that."
LSGH will face Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the Finals with Game 1 scheduled on Monday afternoon at the San Andres Sports Complex in Manila.
—MGP, GMA Integrated News
