Game Monday
(San Andres Sports Complex)
2:30 p.m. – Letran vs LSGH
MANILA — CJ Mesias knocked in a Hail Mary triple with 26.9 ticks to go that all but allowed College of St. Benilde-La Salle Green Hills to escape with a cardiac 89-85 win over San Beda on Thursday in the National Collegiate Athletic Association juniors’ basketball tournament at the San Andres Sports Complex.
And more importantly, the thrilling victory by the Greenies shoved them up into a title showdown with Letran Junior Squires.
It was indeed, a stirring win by the Greenies who needed to overcome the San Beda Red Cubs’ twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four and Chris Hubilla’s 37-point outburst.
Thus, the CSB-LSGH Greenies advanced into the Finals for the first time since 2018.
Spitfirish Luis Pablo came away with a monster game, as he towed the Greenies with 25 points and 19 rebounds while Seven Gagate added 20 points, nine boards, four blocks, and three assists for LSGH.
The best-of-three championship series between the top-ranked Squires and the Greenies starts on Monday, 13 March 2023.
It was in the form of a gem of a pass from Rod Alian, that Mesias took advantage of the crucial three-pointer that shattered the game’s final deadlock at 84-84.
And the rest was history.
James Ison atoned himself for a miscue in a previous play by forcing Hubilla to a turnover and later nailed two free throws to give LSGH a four-point cushion. He finished with 12 points, six boards, five assists, and two steals.
Santi Romero also played big for the Greenies with 12 points, two rebounds, and two assists.
LSGH is looking to reclaim the throne it last won in 2017.
John Lopez chipped in 13 points, Jharmaine Lecciones added 11 points and eight rebounds, and Nicko Lorenzo chipped in 10 points and seven boards for San Beda.
The scores:
LSGH (89) — Pablo 25, Gagate 20, Ison 12, Romero 12, Alian 11, Mesias 5, Gomez 3, Rivero 1, Zaragosa 0.
San Beda (85) — Hubilla 37, Lopez 13, Lecciones 11, Lorenzo 10, Ludovice 8, Dungo 2, Mundas 2, Ronquillo 2, Lacsamana 0, Reyes 0, Wagan 0.
Quarterscores: 22-19, 46-41, 63-62, 89-85
(Amado Inigo/MTVN)
