In Game 2 of their best-of-three championship series in the NCAA Season 98 junior basketball tournament, Colegio de San Juan de Letran and College of Saint Benilde-La Salle Green Hills will go all-out at the San Andres Sports Complex on Thursday.
The Squires are leading 1-0 and are aiming to deliver the championship and end a 22-year title drought when the game begins at 2:30 p.m.
In Game 1, Letran had to recover from a sluggish start as the Greenies created a lead of as many as 12 points early in the first half thanks to the play of Luis Pablo, Ethan Alian, and Seven Gagate. Nonetheless, the Squires continued their winning ways from earlier in the season by making a late comeback.
Syrex Silorio, a quiet player for the Squires, had an unexpectedly big game, scoring a career-high 27 points while adding seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and a block. Huge contributions from Andy Gemao and George Diamante complemented these results.
The big man Diamante added 12 rebounds and 12 points, and the 16-year-old Gemao poured in 21 points as they moved one victory away from the championship.
Although Letran won the first game, head coach Allen Ricardo said they must keep up their momentum since they anticipate LSGH to put everything on the line to force a Game Three.
“Kailangan lang mag-extra effort, offensively and defensively.” Kailangan ibigay na ‘yung lahat, ‘wag na magtira kasi ang hirap ‘pag may Game Three pa e. But in God’s will, hopefully.” said Ricardo.
(“We must put up more effort both offensively and defensively. It will be challenging if we reach Game Three, so we must put everything on the line and leave nothing to chance. But in God’s will, hopefully.”)
Letran hopes to defeat the Greenies and win the junior division for the school for the first time since Season 77 of 2001, when future basketball players JC Intal, RJ Jazul, and Jay-R Reyes succeeded in doing so.
