JIMBOY Estrada answered the call just in time for Letran.
The senior guard hit the game-winning three off the glass to salvage the 85-83 victory over Perpetual on Tuesday at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
It's a pulsating end to the NCAA Season 102 elimination campaign of the Group B top seed Letran, which finished the prelims with a 9-4 record, awaiting their quarterfinal date in the play-in match between Mapua and Lyceum of the Philippines U.
And Estrada was at the forefront, dropping 19 points, four assists, and three rebounds, none bigger than his late-game heroics in a see-saw battle late.
Titing Manalili actually allowed the Knights to get ahead, with his layup with 21.5 ticks remaining giving his side the 82-81 advantage after being down by six with three minutes left.
JM Tulabut had the answer for the Altas, banking his jumper with 8.6 seconds left, one that was responded right back by Estrada with 2.2 seconds to spare.
"Tinignan namin kung anong klaseng depensa ang gagawin nila and from there, confident naman ako na makukuha ni Jimboy yun," said coach Allen Ricardo of that final game-winning play.
Estrada, for his part, bared his readiness for the moment: "Lagi naming sinisimulan sa practice eh. Nagtiwala lang kami sa isa't isa kaya nakahabol kami."
Chad Gammad found his range from deep as he had 19 points from three triples, that went with three boards and three assists, Justin Cargo got 11 points, three rebounds, and three dimes, and Kevin Santos had 10 and three.
Off all game long, Manalili also manufactured five points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals to end their run on a winning note.
"We're just trying to build momentum. Ang hirap din na we end the elimination on a losing note. We always go for the win," said Ricardo.
Perpetual, stuck at no. 4 in the Group, will now head to the play-in armed with a twice-to-beat advantage against San Sebastian on Thursday.
Tulabut paced the Altas with 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists, as Angelo Gelsano tallied a double-double of 11 points, 10 boards, and four dimes in the defeat.
The Scores:
LETRAN 85 -- Estrada 19, Gammad 19, Cargo 11, Santos 10, Reyes 6, Manalili 5, Sison-Walker 5, Buensalida 5, Valdeavilla 3, Villanueva 2, Montecillo 0, Hugo 0.
PERPETUAL 83 -- Tulabut 12, Gelsano 11, Orgo 10, Corpuz 9, Cristino 9, Montemayor 8, Gojo Cruz 7, Casinillo 7, Maglupay 3, Duremdes 3, Roluna 2, Borja 2.
Quarters: 33-21, 45-43, 63-69, 85-83.
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