Amazing Squires’tale of triumph

While the San Sebastian Stags basked in glory with their supporters under klieg lights and before television cameras after winning the NCAA seniors crown Tuesday, the Letran Squires, probably unknown to many, had their own quiet bash after reigning supreme in the juniors division.

But now it can be told that the Squires had a more worthy tale to tell after all.

Beating the San Beda Red Cubs, 63-61, in an overtime thriller in sudden-death at the jampacked Rizal Memorial Coliseum, the Squires ended a long, lonely search for a first crown since their 1985 title conquest.

And that they got back at last year’s finals tormentor, the Mapua Red Robins, en route to winning the championship surely made the victory a lot sweeter for the Squires.

The Letran juniors squad had looked on the way to quenching its thirst for championship last season only to suffer a nightmarish upset by Mapua in the finals. The Squires earlier swept their 14-game assignment in the eliminations to gain a twice-to-beat incentive in the playoffs. Sadly, they were twice beaten by the hard-fighting Red Robins.

With a more seasoned lineup, the Squires once again topped the elimination round this season with a 12-2 win-loss mark. This time, there was no turning back for coach Jing Ruiz’s squad as they first repulsed the Red Robins in the semifinals before outduelling the Red Cubs in the championship.

"It’s a great feeling na makuha namin ang championship. Nabura nito ang frustrations ng failure namin last year. And I must give credit to the boys for giving their best," said Ruiz, a former Knight.

Fr. Edwin Lao, OP, Fr. Edgardo Alaurin and team manager Gil Angeles were all praises for the hardwork and determination of their players, too.

"They deserved to win because they never gave up and they all worked hard for this. But we must also give credit to San Beda for giving us a big fight," said Angeles.

Among the players, Jay-R Reyes shone brightest as he won the Rookie of the Year and the MVP awards aside from leading the Mythical Team and copping the Best Defensive Player plum.

JC Intal, Ruiz’s all-around player, also made it to the Mythical Five while Leland Ronquillo won the series MVP trophy.

The other members of the team were Mark Anthony Balneg, Oliver Cua, RJ Jazul, Argie de Rama, Joseph Samson, Edward Angustia, Dax Dacanay, Rey Francis Guevarra, Rico Carino, Brian Javier and Juanito Quiamco III. Ruiz’s staff included assistant coaches Elmer Latonio and Robert Joseph Guevarra.

Letran drew first blood in the series with a 74-69 win in Game One but San Beda got back in Game Two, pulling off an 80-70 victory.

With the Squires facing the spectre of disaster in the deciding Game Three, Ruiz remembered telling his boys: "We will not win this championship on a silver platter. Atin ang game na ito. Walang bibitiw."

Hang tough the Squires did. The rest is history.