The 65-year old rivalry between NCAA’s Colegio de San Juan de Letran and San Beda College is once again reignited on Friday October 23, at the Mall of Asia Arena, as the two teams battled for the first victory in Season 91’s Finals, with the Intramuros-based squad taking the upper hand in the best-of-three series with a 94-90 win.
San Beda and Letran played tight in all four quarters, both put up 75 field goal attempts with Letran just sinking three more than Beda’s 31.
The defending champion’s last breath came at 10.8, when Dan Sara sank a triple, inching the Red Lions to 90-92.
Off the inbound pass, Letran’s Rey Nambatac fooled San Beda’s defense and headed straight to the basket with a baseline lay-up sealing the win for Intramuros, 94-90.
FULL RECAP: Letran sizzles against San Beda in Game 1 shootout
Four Knights scored in double digits, with Kevin Racal lading the way with 28 points, 12 came from beyond the arc. Game closer Nambatac had 18, Mark Cruz put up 17, and Mcjour Luib with 16.
Ola Adeogun led San Beda’s stand with 23 points, everyone else was far out the scoresheet. Ryusei Koga and Dan Sara scored 10 apiece.
The 5-time defending champions will try to extend the Finals series in game two on Tuesday, October 27, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Here are the photos of the NCAA Finals Game One by FCF’s chief photographer Martin San Diego:
FULL RECAP: Letran sizzles against San Beda in Game 1 shootout
[simpleviewer gallery_id=”231″]
