by Kevin Estrada

QUEZON CITY – San Beda completed its redemption tour in the 101st season as it retook the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship after beating Letran anew, 83-71 at the Araneta Coliseum Saturday afternoon.

Like in the first game three days prior, the third quarter became the series’ turning point as the Red Lions tore the Knights apart in a two-game sweep in the process, extending their record as the winningest school in league history with its 24th title overall.

Stepping up in place of the suspended Agjanti Miller, seniors Yukien Andrada and John Bryan Sajonia, and junior Nygel Gonzales teamed up once again for San Beda, which had brought the brooms against their bitter rival in the championship series for the first time since 2007.

Both Andrada and Sajonia scored 21 points apiece in their final game in Mendiola red, while Gonzales backed up Coach Yuri Escueta’s tag on him as the best point-guard of the league by adding 19.

The pride of Pavia, Iloilo became the finals MVP after averaging 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists, while shooting 46% from the field, including 6/13 from beyond the arc.

San Beda found itself trailing by a bucket at the half, largely in part with Letran’s strong start that saw Coach Allen Ricardo finally starting his usual reliables.

Guard Jonathan Manalili and center Kevin Santos justified their inclusions into the season’s mythical team by combining for 17 in the first 20 minutes, en route to finishing for 15 and 14 points respectively.

However, the third period became the Nygel and Yukien show as the pair outscored Letran just by themselves. Andrada fired in 12 in the third, on three triples while Gonzales then added seven as it erected a dozen-point advantage heading into the final ten minutes.

The Knights then tried a last ditch uprising to possibly force a Tuesday decider, but could only come within four at 69-73 after a Deo Cuajao triple with 2:57 left in the payoff frame.

San Beda finally shut the door with a crippling 10-0 run in the last 1:57 of the season, with Sajonia knocked down the title-clinching triple from the top of the circle right in front of Santos to send the red wave of the Big Dome into party mode as their bonfire is well and truly underway.

The scores:

SAN BEDA 83 – Andrada 21, Sajonia 21, Gonzales 19, Puno 7, Celzo 6, Estacio 6, Reyes 3, Lina 0, Etulle 0, Calimag 0

LETRAN 71 – Manalili 15, Santos 14, Roque 12, Estrada 10, Cuajao 8, Buensalida 5, Tapenio 3, Omega 2, Montecillo 2

Quarter scores: 14-19, 37-39, 65-53, 83-71

* * *