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NCAA: Sans Yu, Letran holds off Benilde for third straight title

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/12/18/ncaa_csjl-vs-csb.jpg"/></div><div><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/tvpatrol/12/18/ncaa_csjl.jpg"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><p>The De La Salle College of Saint Benilde and Colegio de San Juan de Letran battle during game 3 of the NCAA season 98 men&#x27;s basketball finals in Antipolo, Rizal on December 18, 2022. <cite>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Letran celebrates winning the Season 98 championship. <cite>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</cite></p></div></div></div><p><br/>MANILA, Philippines -- <strong>(UPDATED)</strong> The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights showed off their poise and experience in retaining the NCAA championship on Sunday.</p><p>Without their leader in Fran Yu, the Knights proved that they had more than enough to overpower De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, 81-67, in Game 3 of the NCAA Season 98 Finals at the Ynares Center in Antipolo. </p><p>Yu was suspended for the final game of the season after his ejection in Game 2 last week, but Letran still got it done without the floor general through a massive second quarter where they pulled away from the Blazers. </p><p>The Knights out-scored St. Benilde, 27-12, in the pivotal period behind a huge performance from King Caralipio and the contributions of Kobe Monje and Louie Sangalang. The Blazers had no answers in the second frame, especially after season Most Valuable Player Will Gozum exited early with three fouls. </p><p>Caralipio finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists and went on to earn Finals MVP honors, while Brent Paraiso finished with 16 points and Monje had 11 markers. The Knights shot a blistering 50% from the field and had a whopping 44 points inside the paint. </p><p>The Knights had a relatively slim 32-26 lead with 6:52 to play in the second period, as the Blazers hung around even with Gozum on the bench. But a Paraiso triple triggered a 19-2 Letran run, capped by a Sangalang layup that gave them their biggest lead, 51-28, with 2:07 left in the first half. </p><p>Buckets by Chris Flores gave St. Benilde some momentum entering the break, as they trailed 51-33 at the half. They didn&#x27;t go down without a fight: the Blazers got the deficit to as low as 11 points, 77-66, with still 3:05 left in the game after Gozum converted an undergoal stab.</p><p>It turned out to be the last meaningful basket for St. Benilde, however. They were called for a 24-second violation in their ensuing possession, with Miguel Corteza&#x27;s layup coming just after the buzzer. The Blazers then fell apart in the closing minutes: Gozum was called for a disqualifying foul after getting entangled with Paolo Javillonar, leading to his ejection with 1:44 to go. </p><p>That infraction sent Paraiso and Javillonar to the line, where they knocked down three of four free throws. The 80-67 cushion with under two minutes left was more than enough for the Knights, who started celebrating well before the final buzzer sounded.</p><p>This is the Knights third straight championship and 20th overall, putting them two behind archrivals San Beda for most titles in the NCAA. </p><p>Letran survived the absence of Louie Sangalang in the final three minutes and 21 seconds, after the big man fouled out. Also making an early exit was St. Benilde&#x27;s Mark Sangco, who fouled out with 5:34 to play. </p><p>Corteza carried the load for the Blazers with 14 points and seven rebounds. Jimboy Pasturan made just 3-of-10 shots for 10 points; Oczon also struggled from the field, with just nine points on 2-of-13 shooting.</p><p>Gozum played just under 20 minutes and finished with 10 points, two rebounds, a steal, a block, and three turnovers. </p><div><strong>The Scores:</strong></div><p>LETRAN 81 -- Caralipio 20, Paraiso 16, Monje 11, Reyson 8, Sangalang 8, Santos 7, Olivario 4, Go 4, Guarino 2, Javillonar 1, Tolentino 0, Bojorcelo 0.</p><p>CSB 67 -- Corteza 14, Pasturan 10, Gozum 10, Oczon 9, Sangco 6, Nayve 6, Flores 5, Marcos 3, Cullar 2, Carlos 2, Davis 0.</p><p>Quarters: 24-21, 51-33, 70-54, 81-67.</p>

The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights showed off their poise and experience in retaining the NCAA championship on Sunday.

NCAA: Sans Yu, Letran holds off Benilde for third straight title

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NCAA: Sans Yu, Letran holds off Benilde for third straight title

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 18, 2022 06:03 PM PHT

|

Updated Dec 18, 2022 07:27 PM PHT

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basketball

NCAA

NCAA Season 98

NCAA basketball

Letran Knights

St. Benilde Blazers

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