RHENZ Abando was uncertain to play in Game 2 but produced a memorable performance to help Letran annex its 19th NCAA men’s basketball crown.

Abando came through with a double-double effort of 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Knights hammered out a wire-to-wire 75-65 win over Mapua to complete a perfect 12-0 campaign at the jampacked Filoil Flying V Centre yesterday.

Letran bagged its second straight championship – the first back-to-back title run since 1998-99 – and became the first team to fashion out an undefeated season since San Beda posted a 18-0 record in 2010.

The Knights were relentless after the first 10 minutes of play, taking a 19-8 lead on a King Caralipio’s buzzer-beating putback.

Looking sharp despite a right foot injury he sustained in the opener, Abando got his rhythm and scored first basket of the game at the 5:47 mark of the second period as Letran opened a 29-15 advantage.

The Knights led by as much as 21 points in the second half before the Cardinals made a last-gasp uprising, cutting down the deficit to 65-70 on a Paulo Hernandez triple.

When the chips were down, Letran turned to Abando, who scored a floater and two free throws for a 74-65 buffer with 1:13 remaining.

Pro-bound Jeo Ambohot, whose go-ahead basket in the final 45 seconds of Game 1 keyed the Knights the come-from-behind 68-63 victory, was named the Finals MVP after finishing with 13 points and nine rebounds in the clincher.

Mark Sangalang, Letran’s bruising big man, was also solid with 11 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.

The Knights prevailed despite losing Brent Paraiso, who was ejected with 5:11 left in the third period for an unsportsmanlike foul after getting a technical foul earlier in the game.

Hernandez and Rence Nocum each had 14 points for Mapua, which still had a great season, having ended powerhouse San Beda’s remarkable streak of 14 consecutive Finals appearances.

Earlier, Abando became the league’s fourth Rookie of the Year-MVP winner in 18 years in a glitzy awarding ceremonies prior to Game 2.

The 24-year old Pangasinan native duplicated the feat of Mapua’s Allwell Oraeme (2015), San Beda’s Sam Ekwe (2006) and Philippine Christian University’s Gabby Espinas (2004) of winning the highest individual award on his debut season in the league.

Abando, with 48.44 Player Average Value, actually placed second behind Justin Arana’s 58.75 PAVs, but the Arellano University center was not qualified to win the MVP honors as his team failed to make it to the Final Four.

Joining Abando and Arana in the Mythical Team are Ambohot (47.22), College of Saint Benilde’s Will Gozum (46.88) and San Sebastian’s JM Calma (41.77).

For the second consecutive season, Arana was named as the Defensive Player of the Year with 20.50 PAV.

Arana, Ambohot, Gozum and Calma were in the Best Defensive Team along with Nat Cosejo of Emilio Aguinaldo College and Omar Larupay of Lyceum of the Philippines University.

Mapua’s Hernandez claimed the Most Improved Player plum, while the Sportsmanship Award went to University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.

The scores:

Letran (75) — Abando 14, Ambohot 13, Sangalang 11, Caralipio 9, Javillonar 8, Reyson 7, Yu 6, Paraiso 3, Mina 3, Olivario 1, Fajarito 0.
Mapua (65) — Hernandez 14, Nocum 14, Lacap 12, Gamboa 10, Pido 7, Bonifacio 6, Mercado 2, Agustin 0, Asuncion 0, Garcia 0.
Quarterscores: 19-8, 39-23, 58-48, 75-65.