MANILA – Jerrick Balanza laid it all on the court in his final collegiate game. He towed the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights to NCAA coronation after four years.
Balanza ignited the Knights with 27 points to dethrone San Beda University, 81-79, in a do-or-die Game 3 of the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball finals last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
This is the Knights’ 18th NCAA championship.
Balanza, who made a successful return this year after undergoing brain surgery last year, was the fire starter for the Knights with consecutive points in the opening period to turn a 19-12 deficit to a 26-24 edge.
He connived with Edson Batiller and Fran Yu in the second period as the lead went up to 37-26.
The Red Lions quickly erased it for a 37-all count before Ato Ular and Allen Mina surged Letran ahead, 44-48, at the half.
The Red Lions kept the game close in the third period. They were behind by six points before coming up with a late run from Mina and King Caralipio for a 69-56 edge.
San Beda made a huge run at the onset of the fourth period and was able to come to within 70-71 but baskets from Balanza and Ular pushed Letran ahead, 79-73, with 1:29 left.
The Red Lions made its last push as back-to-back triples by Evan Nelle trimmed the deficit to 79-81 before forcing the Knights to a turnover but could not capitalize on Nelle’s triple try that was blocked.
Batiller chipped in 19 markers. Ular contributed nine points and nine rebounds while Yu hd eight markers.
Donald Tankoua top-scored with 22 points, while NCAA MVP Calvin Oftana added 18 markers as the Red Lions saw their three-year NCAA reign come to an end./PN
