VINCE Cuajao was clutch for Letran, hitting the winning three-pointer as the Knights beat San Sebastian in double overtime, 101-98, to arrest a losing skid in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday.
Cuajao capped his season-high 34-point performance with a booming triple with 15 seconds left that broke a tight 98-all contest and sent the Letran gallery at the FilOil EcoOil Arena into frenzy.
Without take-charge guy Paeng Are, who fouled out earlier, the Stags couldn’t convert in their final possession and allowed the Knights to end a three-game slide.
The 6-foot-1 gunner formerly from Santo Tomas and De La Salle shot 7-of-12 from three-point range in a sizzling display of outside shooting for Letran, which rose to a 7-6 record for solo fourth place.
Jimboy Estrada also had a huge game for the Knights with 30 points in his return to the active roster after serving a one-game suspension.
The former NAASCU MVP from St. Claire was 6-of-6 from the foul line and added seven rebounds and five assists.
Cuajao had nine points in the first overtime period, before Estrada took charge in the second extension with five, and was responsible for Are fouling out early in the second OT after being called for flopping.
Still, the Stags kept the Knights on their toes despite losing Are, who finished with a team-high 27 points.
Tristan Felebrico completed a three-point play for the Stags with 33 seconds left to tie the game for the last time at 98, before Cuajao came through with his game winner.
Felebrico finished with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, Nikko Aguilar with 14, and Leo Velasco also had a double-double of 12 and 11 boards in a losing cause for San Sebastian, which fell to 3-10 overall and in danger of missing the Final Four.
The scores:
Letran (101) -– Cuajao 34, Estrada 30, Santos 13, Javillonar 8, Miller 6, Dimaano 4, Montecillo 2, Jumao-As 2, Nunag 2, Tagotongan 0, Sarza 0, Go 0, Baliling 0.
San Sebastian (98) -- Are 27, Felebrico 19, Aguilar 14, Velasco 12, Escobido 7, Ricio 6, R. Gabat 6, L. Gabat 3, Maliwat 3, Suico 1, Pascual 0.
Quarterscores: 25-18; 34-41; 60-64; 77-77;(reg.), 90-90 (OT), 101-98 (2OT).
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