PAO Javillonar made his presence felt right away in his first game of the NCAA Season 100 for the Letran Knights.
The veteran big man dropped a career-best 28 points and teamed up with Jimboy Estrada in a blazing windup as the Knights came from behind to frustrate the Arellano University Chiefs, 86-79, as action in the men’s basketball tournament resumed on Tuesday at the FilOil EcoOil Arena.
Javillonar hardly showed rust after serving a two-game suspension as he shot 11-of-16 from the field, grabbed eight rebounds, and had a pair of steals and block shots in an error-free game for the Knights.
He was initially suspended for three games after suiting up for pro-team Converge in a mini-tournament in Davao during the offseason, before deciding to return to Letran to finish his playing years.
After an appeal, his ban was reduced to two games allowing him to suit up in this game.
READ: Javillonar faces possible NCAA sanction for suiting up in Davao meet
His completed three-point play with 2:42 remaining also shoved Letran into the lead for good, 80-79 after trailing by as many as 59-46 in the third quarter.
“Yung score wala naman sa akin yun. We worked as a team kaya nakuha namin yung panalo,” said the Letran team captain as he downplayed his best ever output in a Knights uniform.
Javillonar was also an efficient 3-of-5 from beyond the arc.
Estrada added 14 points and put the finishing touches on Letran’s second straight win by scoring on back-to-back baskets for the marginal score.
The Knights (2-1) outscored the Chiefs in the final quarter, 23-10, to turn things around.
It was another sorry loss for Arellano as it again failed to hang on to the lead after dominating the game for three quarters.
Maverick Binoya paced Arellano with 16 points, while Cyril Hernal and big man Lorenz Capulong had 11 points each.
Renzo Abiera, who finished with 10 points, gave the Chiefs their last taste of the lead on a three pointer, 79-77, before the Knights closed out the game behind a 9-0 run.
Arellano fell to 0-3 in the standings as it remained one of two teams still to break through this season.
The scores
Letran 86 – Javillonar 28, Estrada 14, Miller 11, Cuajao 6, Go 6, Monje 5, Dimaano 5, Jumao-as 4, Nunag 4, Montecillo 2, Delfino 1, Pradella 0. Santos 0, Tagotongan 0.
Arellano 79 – Vinoya 16, Hernal 11, Capulong 11, Abiera 10, Ongotan 10, Geronimo 7, Valencia 6, Camay 4, Borromeo 2, Libang 2, De Leon 0, Acop 0, W. Miller 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarterscores: 28-26; 46-54; 63-69; 86-79.
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