The Letran Knights are back in the Final Four.
Jerrick Balanza and Christian Balagasay showed the way for the Knights’ bid to gain a semis berth for a second straight year in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament.
Balanza and Balagasay eked out 18 points apiece as the Letran Knights put away the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 88-69, yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Knights coach Bonnie Tan noted that the game of many of his players are reaching their peak, after they notched their 11th win in 17 games.
“Hopefully, bumabalik na ang mga laro nila,” said Tan now that the Knights have secured the no. 3 seeding in the Final Four.
Meanwhile, the second seeded Lyceum Pirates, with Jaycee Marcelino knocking in 23 points, won over the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 77-64, in a no-bearing match that improved their slate to 13-4.
In the junior division, Maclaude Guadana hit a triple with 16 seconds left to carry the Lyceum Junior Pirates to a 70-69 triumph over the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers.
This moved the Junior Pirates closer to the no. 2 Final Four berth with their 11-6 slate.
Letran’s Fran Yu, back from an injury, joined Balanza and Balagasay during a big scoring in the second quarter, making nine of 14 points as the Knights moved away from a close, 22-16, advantage in the first quarter.
Balanza made seven points and Balagasay added six points leading the Knights to a 50-30 halftime spread.
“Importante ang mga laro namin. Kailangang manalo kami sa parehong laro namin. Dahil ang laro namin ay pataas na. Kapag natalo ay baka bumaba pa,” said Balanza, the team skipper and a member of the 2015 squad that reached the finals.
Edgar Charcos and Jielo Razon banged in 15 points apiece for the Altas, who dropped to eighth at 5-11.
Andrei Romenez topscored for 15 points as the Perpetual Help Junior Altas eased the Letran Squires out of contention, 81-77, with a drive from Kyle Cuevas in the last 11 seconds sending the Junior Altas to their sixth win in 14 matches.
The loss of the Squires (7-10) put them out of the running.