Lions vs Knights Game 3: date with history

MANILA, Philippines - “Expect an epic Game Three.”

San Beda coach Jamike Jarin made the remark that encapsulated all the trimmings of a Game Three after the Lions held off the Letran Knights, 68-61, Tuesday to force a sudden death for this year’s NCAA crown.

After the two teams split the first two games in hard-earned fashions, a classic finale looms as the league’s winningest teams dispute the crown at 4 p.m. today and chase history before an expected record crowd at the MOA Arena.

The Lions are seeking a record sixth straight crown while the Knights hope to move out of a 10-year title-less limbo.

The Knights banked on their defense to seize the best-of-three series opener, 94-90, last Friday but the Lions rebounded with that scrambling seven-point victory in an error-filled Game Two, setting the stage for today’s do-or-die.

“Every basketball player and coach should experience a rubber match so this (Game Three) is a gift to every basketball-loving person here today, whether you’re from San Beda or Letran or just a pure basketball fan,” said Jarin. 

“And it doesn’t get any better than this because this rubber match is historic,” he added.

San Beda went to its inside game when its vaunted running attack began to sputter, pounding the ball inside for one-on-one plays anchored on Ola Adeogun and sophomore Jayvee Mocon.

Arthur dela Cruz and Baser Amer also made up for a lethargic Game One games with a combined 21-point effort Tuesday.

“They didn’t run their offense in Game Two anymore. They went to their talent and strength, which is straight post up,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. “In every game, he (Jarin) is doing something new.

“Sometimes, they’re doing things that we’re not prepared against. That’s the style of Jamike and I give him credit for that,” he added.

San Beda and Letran have been rivals for decades and are considered the most titled teams in the league today with a combined 35 championships, including 19 by the Lions.

The Mendiola-based squad has lorded it over the league for a decade, making the finals the last 10 years and winning eight of the last nine championships, including the last five, Letran, on the other hand, has failed in three title cracks since winning it in 2005.

The Knights moved in the threshold of finally ending the long title drought with a shock Game One win, only to falter in Game Two, which drew a league finals record of 17,588 paying patrons.

Now it boils down to one game.

“It’s going to be one heck of a game from start to finish, it’s going to be a classic one,” said Jarin.

“In terms of effort, it’s a classic. But I can assure you it’s not going to be pretty because I can see my players to kill themselves to get the title, I can see it in their eyes,” said Ayo.

The Knights won the opener by forcing the Lions to 29 turnovers, resulting in 25 transition points.

It was more of the same in Game Two as Letran scored 25 points off San Beda’s 32 errors.

But the Knights failed to convert on a number of shots in the clutch, enabling the Lions to steal the win and live for sudden death. In all, Letran missed 59 of its 83 attempts for a miserable 29 percent in Game Two.

San Beda, in contrast, hit 27 of its 48 tries.

“We missed the shots we usually make,” said Ayo, whose wards also struggled at the stripe, missing eight crucial free throws, including six by Rey Nambatac, who forms Letran’s threesome fearsome that includes Kevin Racal and ace playmaker Mark Cruz.

In fact, Nambatac was held to his first scoreless game since his rookie season two years ago.

“Once you missed a free throw, you can’t blame anyone or anything but your focus. Even if you’re not a regular player and you have a bad form, you can still make a free throw if you just focused. It’s really all mental,” said Ayo.

“But it’s one of those days. Rey showed great effort in defense but he just couldn’t contribute on the other end,” he added.

Still, Ayo is upbeat of the Knights’ chances in sudden death.

“We might have lost Game Two but I’m very optimistic coming into Game Three because of our effort,” he said.