Ronjay Enrile came out with another explosive game but it was Boyet Bautista who anchored the Knights’ fightback in a nerve-wracking finish as the Knights claimed their 14th crown in a victory that re-staked their claim as the league’s winningest team.
Seizing a 56-50 lead after the third quarter, the Knights suddenly turned cold in the final canto, muffing shots after shots that enabled the Stags to strike back and regain a 58-56 lead behind a stirring 8-0 run with three minutes left in the contest.
Then the two teams, in their bid to score crucial baskets in endgame, fell prey to the gnawing pressures and ran into a maze of errors until Bautista stepped up for the Knights.
Bautista banged in a long jumper to knot the count at 58-all, pulled down a key rebound before Aaron Aban scored on a putback that made it 60-58, and then fed rookie Jonathan Pinera with a crucial assist that gave Letran a 62-58 cushion.
The Stags virtually cracked up at this stage as Nicole Uy, who finished with 18 points, flubbed two foul shots and Michael Gonzales split his own charities before the Knights wrapped it all up with another basket.
Pandemonium broke loose as Letran fans and supporters stormed onto the court amidst a sea of blue and gold confetti with coach Louie Alas and the Knights celebrating the victory they never expected to achieve.
"It feels good, it feels really good," said a teary-eyed Alas, who was also responsible for steering Letran to the 1998 crown also at the expense of San Sebastian.
The winner-take-all match was delayed for15 minutes when Letran fans pelted the court with debris after a delayed call by the referees assessing Letran’s Dale Santos a foul on San Sebastian’s Red Vicente.
The respite, however, failed to slow down the Knights who went on to hang on to the lead after a buzzer-beating triple by Bautista, the best player of the game, closed the third period.
"Sabi lang ni coach ibuhos na namin ang lahat dahil ito na ang huling game namin this season," said Bautista. "Kaya nga pumukpok na ako nung huli.
The scores:
CSJL 64 — Bautista 19, Enrile 19, Aban 13, Pinera 6, Santos 3, Rodriguez 2, Aldave 2, Fedelicio 0, Reyes 0, Realista 0, Anabo 0.
SSC-R 59 — Uy 18, Gonzales 10, Baluyot 9, Najorda 7, Rebuya 5, Moore 4, Legarde 4, Maneclang 2, Vicente 0, Aguilar 0.