THE Letran Knights finally showed the stuff that made them champions in a Thursday game at the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
The Knights’ defense worked wonders in the final period as they the managed to almost shut down the prolific Jiovani Jalalon in an 89-79 win over the Arellano University Chiefs.
This gave the Knights their third win in four games, while the Chiefs fell to their first loss in three outings.
Jalalon showed the way with 17 points for the Chiefs, but he was held to just two points by the defensive stops of JP Calvo and McJour Luib in the final period.
Calvo and Luib forced Jalalon to commit a maze of errors in the last 1:45 and this helped the Knights move away by as much as 12 points.
Luib’s triple handed Letran an 85-73 spread.
Rey Nambatac powered the Knights with 22 points, while Luib had 17 points and Jerrick Balanza made 12.
“Credit to the boys, they executed the game plan. Lumalabas na ang tunay na laro ng Letran na nag-champion. Ito na ang pinakamagandang laro nila in four games,” said Knights’ coach Jeff Napa.
Meanwhile, big man Bright Akhuetie registered his first double-double for the season as he led the University of Perpetual Help Altas in stopping the San Sebastian Stags, 76-61.
The 6’8” Bright put in 20 points and 20 rebounds, along with two assists in powering the Altas to their second win in four games.
The Stags absorbed their second loss in three games.
Akhuetie banged in seven in the second period as the Altas went on to move away, 44-37. Then, he was at the forefront in the fourth, scoring eight as the Altas kept the Stags at bay and limited them to seven points in the last period.
“Buti na lang nanalo kami kahit masama laro namin,” said Altas coach Jimwell Gican.
The Altas struggled with 30 turnovers. But with the team controlling the rebounds, 59-41, they went on to finish with a 15-point edge in the end.
In the junior division, Guilmer de la Torre poured in 30 points and had 10 rebounds as the Arellano University University Braves smothered the Letran Squires, 87-75.
De la Torre delivered 14 points in the last period as the Braves moved away from a close 53-49 count in the third to 14-point spread midway in the fourth.
Jielo Razon knocked in 13 points, while Lance de Leon added 11 for the Perpetual Help Junior Altas in their 57-45 subduing of San Sebastian.
Games Today
(The Arena in San Juan)
12 noon San Beda vs CSB
2 p.m. EAC vs Mapua
4 p.m. Lyceum vs JRU