Kevin Alas drives past the San Sebastian defense in their Final Four matchup on Saturday night, (FCF / Arvyn Peter Radovan)

Letran scoring machine powers Knights past Stags, forge do-or-die Monday

At the biggest stage of them all, the NCAA Season 88 Final Four, Kevin Alas once again carried the Knights on his shoulders.

The spitfire guard led Letran to a 92-74 victory on Saturday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, scoring an all-time NCAA Final Four high total of 43 points on 10-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc, disproving his critics that he is just a slasher. He scored in double figures in all quarters, except for the second where he scored only nine points.

Former Benilde Blazer Sunday Salvacion previously held the scoring record with 39 against JRU back in 2001.

Entering this game, the Stags held a twice-to-beat advantage and had to make do without gunslinging guard Ronald Pascual, who was automatically suspended for one game due to a punch he landed in the midsection of Rome Dela Rosa in their elimination round-ending matchup with San Beda.

Head coach Louie Alas praised his boys’ consistency and grace under pressure when things got chippy throughout the ballgame.

Both teams were called for a combined total of 15 technical fouls, which was a result of numerous unsportsmanlike fouls and disqualifying fouls on AJ Vitug of SSC-R and Kristoffer Alas of CSJL.

PBA-bound forward Calvin Abueva managed to amount to 21 points, 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. However, his frontcourt partner Ian Sangalang was shackled to a low of 13 points and 5 rebounds – the lowest against the Knights this season.

Red Lions aim for sixth title in seven years, nip Altas in end game

(FCF / Arvyn Peter Radovan)

In the first game, San Beda College booked their seventh consecutive Finals appearance since 2006, after barely surviving a pesky Perpetual Help five by a count of 56-52 to end the Altas’ magical run to the post-season.

The Altas seemed determined to extend this series to a deciding game, leading after each of the first three quarters, but the Red Lions were the more determined and composed bunch that executed well down the stretch.

Rookie big man Ola Adeogun did his damage by scoring nine of his 23 big points in the final 10 minutes to go along with 14 rebounds and 2 blocks, which alleviated the lackluster performances of frontline tandem Jake Pascual (6 pts, 6 rebs, 2 blks, 4 fouls) and Kyle Pascual (0 pts, 1 reb, 14 mins).

Baser Amer nearly turned in a double-double output with an all-around tally of 9 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, and a blocked shot.

The lone bright spot for the Altas was an explosive output from Nick Omorogbe, who lit up for 15 points, all of them from three-point distance, with 5 steals before fouling out of the ballgame in the late stages.

Jett Vidal scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds, while George Allen had 9 points on 4-for-6 shooting from the field in their respective NCAA curtain calls.

BOX SCORES
First game
SAN BEDA (56): Adeogun 23, Amer 9, Dela Cruz, 7, Caram 6, J. Pascual 6, Dela Rosa 5, K. Pascual 0, Lim 0, Koga 0, Mendoza 0, Ludovice 0
PERPETUAL (52): Vidal 15, Omorogbe 15, Allen 9, Alano 5, Elopre 4, Babayemi 4, Arboleda 0, Thompson 0, Paulino 0, Jolangcob 0
Quarters: 9-10, 17-22, 35-39, 56-52

Second game
LETRAN (92): K. Alas 43, Cruz 20, Racal 10, Lituania 8, Belorio 4, Gabawan 4, Cortes 3, Almazan 0, J. Alas 0, Luib 0, Pantin 0
SAN SEBASTIAN (74): Abueva 21, Sangalang 13, Juico 10, Dela Cruz 8, Rebollos 6, Miranda 6, Maiquez 5, Gusi 3, Vitug 2, Antipuesto 0, Binuya 0, Dones 0
Quarters: 27-7, 46-28, 69-48, 92-74