LETRAN finally got its redemption tour in the NCAA Season 100 going by turning back Jose Rizal College, 70-62, Friday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
A pair of rookies came through and helped the Knights finally break through the win column.
Johnsherick ‘Jimboy’ Estrada, the former NAASCU (National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities) MVP and Rookie of the Year, caught fire with 22 points and nine rebounds, while fellow rookie Fil-Am James Miller had 16 in the victory that atoned for the team’s heartbreaking loss against the San Sebastian Stags last Sunday.
“First game namin talo kami. Hindi kami nag uusap-usap sa (school) bus hanggang pagdating namin sa dorm,” recalled Estrada in the aftermath of the team’s 91-84 loss to the Stags in a game the Knights led three fourths of the way before collapsing in the final period.
Added new coach Allen Ricardo, “Yun ang pinaka-mahirap yung unang panalo. The last time nandun na kami versus Baste. And we thought we can close it.
“But you know basketball is a game of mistakes. So dun ko makikita yung haba ng pasensiya ko sa kanila. Eventually, we came up short in our first game.”
This time, Letran made sure there will be no more fourth quarter meltdowns.
Still, the Knights needed an 8-0 blast entering the stretch run to finally pull away from the scrappy Heavy Bombers as Vince Cuajao hit for back-to-back treys to cap the scoring run and gave Letran a 66-58 lead entering the final two minutes.
“Ang importante yung makuha namin yung unang panalo para makakuha kami ng rhythm. Kasi iba talaga yung naibibigay kapag nananalo ka, yung confidence, camaraderie, yung unity ng team. So at least I’m happy na nakuha namin yun,” added Ricardo, who is aiming to steer back the Knights as a title contender this season after tumbling down to a 2-16 record last year.
Sophomore guard Shawn Argente had four three pointers for 18 points to lead the way for the Heavy Bombers, who suffered their second straight loss.
The scores
Letran 70 – Estrada 22, Miller 16, Go 8, Cuajao 6, Dimaano 5, Pradella 4, Baliling 3, Jumao-os 3, Santos 2, Monje 1, Montecillo 0, Nunag 0, Delfino 0.
Jose Rizal 62 – Argente 18, Guiab 12, Raymundo 9, Pangilinan 8, Ramos 6, Panapanaan 5, Barrera 4, Samontanes 0, Benitez 0, De Leon 0, de Jesus 0, Medina 0.
Quarters: 16-15; 32-31; 54-48; 70-62.
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