The Letran Knights subdued a foul-troubled College of St. Benilde Blazers, 87-74, and handed the defending champion San Beda Red Lions that best seat in the Final Four semifinals of the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Ato Ular and Fran Yu showed the way with 20 and 19 points, respectively, for the Knights in claiming their eighth win in 12 games at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
The Knights got two triples from Yu and Batiller to move ahead, 70-67, in the last 6:59.
As the Blazers lost two key players to five fouls after that, Letran went on to take a seven-point spread, 77-70, with 3:07 to go.
With Edward Dixon and Justin Gutang fouling out in succession, the Knights then pounced on CSB’s awful shooting to stay ahead in the remaining time.
“It’s all about defense. We lessened our errors. This is the first time that the team had single-digit errors,” said Knights’ coach Bonnie Tan, who noted the team’s eight turnovers throughout the game.
The Knights, with Batiller making 13 points, notched their second consecutive win and improved their chances of reaching the Final Four as well.
Yankie Haruna tallied 19 points for the Blazers, who fell to fifth at 6-5, as they struggled at the end of the first half after the bench got penalized for bringing six players inside the court in the final minute of the second canto.
The Red Lions drew 20 points from James Canlas as they turned back the San Sebastian Stags, 91-76, to remain unbeaten after 13 straight matches.
The fate of the Red Lions rested on how the outcome of the CSB Blazers’ encounter with the Knights.
Had the Blazers won, San Beda would have just secured a playoff berth to the Final Four.
Since the Blazers lost to the Knights, they gained the top seeding in the Final Four, and a twice-to-beat bonus as well.
Donald Tankoua added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Red Lions, who claimed the first twice-to-beat incentive in the Final Four following the Blazers’ defeat.
“I salute my players for this. They have been having problems in their first three games in the second round. But I’m happy how they responded,” Boyet Fernandez.
Calvin Oftana struck with eight of his 15 points in leading the Red Lions to a 30-17 spread in the first half, while Canlas knocked in nine points in the second period as San Beda kept its poised took a 51-43 halftime lead.
The Stags, who managed to stay close by eight, got a game-high 16 points from RK Ilagan.
In the junior division, the Letran Squires kept their playoff hopes alive by stopping title contender La Salle Green Hills, 83-79.
Shawn Umali eked out 16 points, eight rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal as Letran hiked its record to 6-7 and moved near the playoffs.
CJ Saure, who sank 15 points, knocked in two of six charities in the last 16 seconds to put the Squires ahead, 79-76.
RC Calimag made 28 points for LSGH, which fell to a tie for the second spot at 7-5.
Rhayyan Amsali’s shot 21 points while Yukien Andrada added 18 for the solo leading San Beda Red Cubs in edging the San Sebastian Staglets, 88-79, their eighth win in 13 outings.
The Red Cubs never looked back after taking a 12-point edge, 28-16, in the first period.