JEO Ambohot came through with the biggest shot of his young life as he lifted Letran to a 70-68 victory over Arellano University yesterday as the Knights stayed in the semifinal hunt in the 93rd NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Arena in San Juan City.
With the Knights trailing by a point and facing the prospect of elimination, the 6’6” Ambohot was in the right place and at the right time as he made a put back off a blown layup by teammate Rey Nambatac to give Letran the marginal lead and eventually the win.
JP Calvo hit a free throw and the Knights watched the Chiefs blew a couple of opportunities to seal the win and set another knockout game against the San Sebastian Stags on Tuesday at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
“The boys just refused the lose,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa.
Nambatac, playing his final season as he has applied for this year’s PBA rookie draft, exploded for 25 points, but he was shut down in the last nine minutes, allowing AU to turn things around and even lead, 68-67, with 7.2 ticks to go.
Good thing Ambohot was there to save the day.
And Letran lived for another day. It plays San Sebastian next for the fourth and last berth to the stepladder semis and the right to face off with the Jose Rizal Bombers, the No. 3 seed, where the winner clashes with the second-seeded San Beda on Nov. 7 also at the MOA Arena.
Lyceum of the Philippines University zoomed straight to the best-of-three finals with a momentous 18-game elimination round sweep.
Games Tuesday (MOA Arena, Pasay)
1 p.m.- SSC-R vs CSB (jrs)
3:30 p.m.- SSC-R vs Letran (srs)
