LETRAN leaned on the duo of Kevin Santos and Jimboy Estrada down the stretch as it outlasted a gritty Emilio Aguinaldo College squad, 75-73, to take its second straight win in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.
Santos and Estrada conspired for the Knights’ final three baskets, with the shifty guard locating the towering big twice underneath -- including a dunk with 1:14 remaining to give their team a 74-69 lead, a lead they’d hold on to ‘til the final buzzer.
But Letran, judging on the way it played in the first half, shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.
The Knights at one point led by as many as 17, 50-33, following a Nat Montecillo three-pointer but soon had to fend off a frenzied Generals side who slowly chipped away on their lead and made a game out of it late.
A Wilmar Oftana basket got the Generals the closest as they trimmed the Knights’ lead to one, 67-68 with 3:51 remaining.
But that only set-up the stage for the heroics of Estrada and Santos who came up big on both ends, getting timely baskets and stops as the Knights improved to 4-2.
"For today's game it's toughness. Last game kasi [it was all about] courage. This game, sinabi ko kailangan matapatan natin yung toughness ng EAC. Kahit anong mangyari, kailangan ma-overcome namin," Letran head coach Allen Ricardo said.
"Crucial yung foul trouble si Montecillo and Estrada, kaya naging shaky yung opensa namin at depensa. Somehow naman nag step-up sila (Jace) Miller, quality minutes. Despite the 25 turnovers, andun parin yung composure ng mga bata to handle those situations.
Santos, expected to be one of the Knights’ pillars this season, finally had his breakout game as he finished with 17 points and six blocks as he dazzled on both ends of the court.
Deo Cuajao hit three treys to finish with 14 points while Estrada finished with an all-around game with 11 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Gurtiza led the way for the Generals with 19 points, scoring 15 of those in the fiery second half uprising,
Gelo Loristo and Kyle Jacob added 11 apiece for the Generals who slid to three-way tie at seventh with the San Sebastian Stags and the JRU Heavy Bombers who are also sporting 2-4 records.
The scores:
LETRAN 75 – Santos 17, Cuajao 14, Estrada 11, Javillonar 10, Montecillo 9, Miller 8, Nunag 4, Jumao-As 2, Tagotongan 0, Galoy 0, Dimaano 0, Pradella 0, Baliling 0
EAC 73 – Gurtiza 19, Loristo 11, Jacob 11, Doromal 7, Oftana 6, Ochavo 4, Pagsanjan 4, Luciano 3, Bacud 3, Lucero 2, Bagay 2, Postanes 1, Quinal 0, Devara 0, Umpad 0
QUARTERS: 25-15, 47-33, 60-56, 75-73
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