By Ivan Saldajeno
TAGUIG--Ian Torres played hero for the College of Saint Benilde as the team clinched the Pinoyliga Next Man Cup championship by stunning La Salle, 81-80, in the one-game final on Saturday at the Enderun Colleges Gym.
Torres scored on a floater with 1:02 left that broke a 78-all tie as the Blazers fought back from 19 points down to take the lead against the Green Archers.
CSB, though, left some room open for its neighbor and sister school to have a shot at forcing overtime as Jhomel Ancheta split his free throws and Henry Agunanne grabbed the rebound that set up an EJ Gollena three-point attempt.
Anton Eusebio fouled Gollena while taking the three with 3.5 seconds, and Gollena made his first two free throws.
However, Gollena missed his third free throw, and Torres won the rebounding battle to ice the game for the Blazers.
Torres was named the Finals MVP for his late heroics and was also named to the said college preseason event's Mythical Five.
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