THE defending champion San Beda Red Cubs turned to the free throw line in the dying seconds, with split charities from Joshua Tagala and Peter Alfaro propelling them to an 81-78 triumph over the Mapua Red Robins in Game 2 of the junior finals
Rookie Carlo Obenza hit 19 points for the Red Cubs to force a deciding Game Three in their best-of-three series.
“We almost lost. It’s a good thing we managed to recover from a seven-point deficit,” said Red Cubs coach JB Sison.
The Red Cubs, who rallied from seven points down in the last five minutes, forced a 77-all deadlock in the last 1:46 following Germy Mahinay’s drive past Jasper Salenga, and off Josh Tagala’s pass.
But the Red Robins managed to stay in front for the last time, 78-77, off Salenga’s freebie off Mahinay’s foul in the last 1:12.
Obenza then pushed the Red Cubs ahead with a drive off his steal from Brian Lacap, 79-78, and as the Red Robins fell into foul trouble, Tagala and Alfaro sank their gift shots in the remaining 8.4 and 6.5 seconds.
Romuel Junsay shot a game-high 23 points, and missed a winning shot for Mapua at the buzzer off Will Gozum’s pass.
Junsay banged in eight points in the second period as the Red Robins widened an 18-16 lead, and with a 10-run.
The 5’11” Junsay capped that run with a triple in the last 2:22, for an 11-point spread, 39-28.
The Robins, who took the series opener, 83-64, Thursday, appeared headed to grabbing the title when they led 41-33 at the half.
Meanwhile, La Salle-Greenhills’ Troy Mallillin emerged MVP in the juniors division after edging San Beda’s Sam Abu Hijle and Arellano U’s Guillmer dela Torre.
San Beda’s Joshua Tagala and Arellano U’s Aaron Fermin joined Mallinllin, Abu Hijle and dela Torre in the first Mythical Team.
Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme made up for his team’s failed title bid by snaring the Most Valuable Player award trophy for the second straight season.
Oraeme, who won the highest individual plum last year on his rookie season, also took the Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row after he averaged 16 points, a league fifth best, a league-best 20 rebounds and 2.4 blocks (second) a game.
