Knights book finals seat; Lions stay alive

MANILA, Philippines — Rhenz Abando provided the spark and Fran Yu put on the finishing touches as Letran survived an upset-conscious University of Perpetual Help, 77-75, yesterday to barge into the finals of the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena.

San Beda, for its part, lived to fight another day as it rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to turn back Mapua in the first overtime game of the season, 73-67.

Ralph Penuela took charge when it mattered and fired all his 13 points in the second half, including nine in the final period of regulation, as the Lions set up a do-or-die game on Wednesday for the last finals seat.

Abando erupted for a game-high 24 points, including 22 in the first three quarters, while Yu scored his team’s last six points to power the Knights to the best-of-three finals starting next week where they have a chance to claim their 19th NCAA title.

Abando waxed hot early and erupted for 15 points in the first half and then dropped seven in the third when the defending champions outscored the Altas, 26-16, to turn a 36-39 halftime deficit to a 62-55 edge at the end of the third quarter.

With the game on the line, Yu entered the fray and came through in the clutch as he scored the reigning titlist’s last six points, including a three-point play that gave them the lead for good.

“I just want to help the team in any way I can,” said Yu, who finished with 13 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal.

It was a heartbreaker of a loss for the Altas, who had all the chances to pull off an upset and force a knockout game.