Knights nail three-peat  

MANILA, Philippines — The Letran Knights made a rare distinction of winning two NCAA crowns in a single year and in the process completed a three-peat.

The fantastic boys from Muralla did it with incredible grit, repulsing the St. Benilde Blazers, 81-67, in a do-or-die setto before a packed crowd at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

It was Letran’s third straight crown and 20th overall, which put it two rings closer to catching up on proud and mighty San Beda, which owns a league record 22 championships.

Then there’s the indelible mark the Knights are leaving in league history – a twinkill in 2022 or twin crown upon the league’s return from a pandemic-induced hiatus.

With the memory of their title sweep seven months ago still fresh in their minds, the Knights completed another title run – a fitting farewell to graduating players Fran Yu, Louie Sangalang, Brent Paraiso and King Caralipio.

These Letran Knights made their final hurrah something to remember.

“Sa akin lang, sabi ko sa sarili ko last na laro ko na, kaya binuhos ko na talaga ang best ko,” said an ecstatic Caralipio, a Mythical Team awardee also named Finals MVP.

In a finale to remember, the combatants went at each other in a virtual wrestling match.

Mercifully, the referees called almost every touch foul imaginable and assessed flagrant fouls when needed.

The Knights and the Blazers literally bled and made it a Sunday, bloody Sunday.

Letran played minus leader Yu, who was suspended for the decider for an elbow thrown on Mark Sangco’s chin in Game Two.

The former Finals MVP was confined to watching the game somewhere outside the venue.

In the din of the celebration, the Knights skipper joined his teammates, relishing the title he longed for before calling it a day in his illustrious NCAA career.

While Yu is leaving his alma mater with three titles on his belt, season MVP Will Gozum will remain searching for one as he ended his season getting ejected late for head-butting Letran’s Paolo Javillonar.

It was a heartbreaking ending to what had been a magical season for Charles Tiu and his Blazers.