SAN BEDA is back on top of the mountain after discarding Letran in Game 2 of the NCAA Season 101 Finals, 83-71, to win the men’s basketball championship at Araneta Coliseum on Saturday.

The Red Lions clinched their 24th championship in the men’s basketball division with a sweep of longtime rivals, the Knights.

Bryan Sajonia took home the Finals MVP award after finishing with 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists and a steal.

“Ang sarap maging Bedista!” Sajonia exclaimed right after winning the title and his newest hardware.

“Nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon na nakuha namin ‘yong panalo, pero para sa lahat ‘to. Para ‘to sa lahat ng Bedistang sumuporta sa akin. Sobrang sarap nito, dream ko magchampion at ngayon, nakuha ko na.”

Back in Game 1, Sajonia dropped 17 points, six rebounds and three assists. In two games of the season-ending series, he averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

The spitfire guard also dropped the hammer for San Beda in the clutch when it mattered most.

After leading by as much as 14 points, the Red Lions found their deficit cut to four, 73-69, after a Deo Cuajao triple in the 2:51 mark of the fourth.

Sajonia, though, took matters into his own hands with a triple of his own at the top of the key to keep the Knights at bay, 76-69, with 1:57 left in the game.

Helping Sajonia notch the Season 101 title for the Red Lions were Yukien Andrada and Nygel Gonzales, who finished with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Jonathan Manalili left it all on the floor for Letran with 15 points, seven assists and six rebounds but to no avail. Kevin Santos and Jun Roque also finished with 14 and 12 points, respectively, in a losing effort.

The scores:

SAN BEDA (83) – Andrada 21, Sajonia 21, Gonzales 19, Puno 7, Celzo 6, Estacio 6, Reyes 3, Lina 0, Etulle 0, Calimag 0

LETRAN (71) – Manalili 15, Santos 14, Roque 12, Estrada 10, Cuajao 8, Buensalida 5, Tapenio 3, Omega 2, Montecillo 2

Quarterscores: 14-19, 37-39, 65-53, 83-71