Knights clobber Pirates in physical game

Games Tuesday

10 a.m. – Jose Rizal vs Mapua (jrs)

12 noon – Lyceum vs Arellano (jrs)

2 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Mapua (srs)

4 p.m. – Lyceum vs Arellano (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Mark Cruz put on a scoring show in the fourth quarter as Letran thrashed Lyceum, 74-57, in a highly physical contest as the Knights re-joined the San Beda Red Lions at the helm in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Cruz buried five of a league season-high eight triples that highlighted his 17-point flurry in the stretch, powering the Knights from a one-point deficit to a whopping 17-point victory, their 10th against two losses.

“We practice three hours a day, including an hour-long shooting just in case the teams use the zone,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. “It just so happened that Mark came through big in this game.”

Meanwhile, Lyceum’s Cameroonian big man Victor Nguidjol and Letran’s Rey Nambatac nearly came to blows after the game, sparked by the former’s uncalled for nudge on the driving Knight when the outcome had already been settled.

Earlier in the third period, Nguidjol accidentally landed an elbow on Christian Balagasay, bloodying the Knight’s nose.

Nguidjol finished with 20 points and 15 rebounds for the Pirates, who fell to 3-9.

The Knights took charge in the first three quarters but wavered early in the fourth, enabling the Pirates to wrest control at 50-49 on a pair of charities by Wilson Baltazar.

But Cruz took over and unleashed 17 points to anchor the Knights’ fiery windup.

In the other game, St. Benilde smashed a hapless Emilio Aguinaldo College side, 81-57, to join the Pirates and the San Sebastian Stags at seventh.

The Generals fell to 2-10.

St. Benilde also held EAC to a season-low first half points (18) and the Generals’ 31 points after three quarters tied the previous season low by the Blazers in a 49-67 defeat to the Jose Rizal Bombers last July 28.

The previous season low in first half scoring was 22 during the CSB-JRU game.

Later in the day, Jio Jalalon outplayed Scottie Thompson in overtime as Arellano University beat a Bright Akhuetie-less Perpetual Help, 84-77, to gain a share of third with its victim at 8-4.

Jalalon scored 11 of his game-high 32 points in the extra period and finished with 15 assists and 10 rebounds for his second triple-double of the season.

Thompson, the reigning MVP, also dished out a triple-double of 24 points, 12 boards and 11 assists, making it the first time in league history that two triple doubles by opposing players were made in a single game.

The scores: 

First Game

St. Benilde 81 – J. Domingo 16, Ongteco 12, Grey 12, Fajarito 8, Castor 7, Deles 6, S. Domingo 5, Young 4, Saavedra 3, Flores 3, Jonson 2, San Juan 2, Sta. Maria 1, Nayve 0

EAC 57 – Munsayac 15, Mejos 11, Diego 8, Pascua 6, Onwubere 6, Hamadou 6, Corilla 3, Bonleon 2, Pascual 0, General 0, Estacio 0

Quarterscores: 20-9; 37-18; 60-31; 81-57

Second Game

Letran 74 – Cruz 26, Racal 19, Sollano 10, Nambatac 9, Luib 5, Balagasay 4, Balanza 1, Apreku 0, Calvo 0, Quinto 0

Lyceum 57 – Nguidjol 20, Baltazar 14, Lugo 6, Lacastesantos 4, Alanes 4, Ayaaay 4, Bulawan 3, Taladua 2, Soliman 0, Marata 0, Mbida 0

Quarterscores: 17-11; 28-25; 47-42; 74-57

Third Game

Arellano 84 – Jalalon 32, Nicholls 14, Holts 8, Enriquez 8, Meca 7, Bangga 6, Salado 4, Cadavis 3, Gumaru 1, Ortega 1, Capara 0, Tano 0.

Perpetual Help 77 – Thompson 24, Eze 19, Coronel 16, Gallardo 6, Dagangon 4, Ylagan 3, Oliveria 2, Cabiltes 2, Dizon 1, Tamayo 0, Bantayan 0, Sadiwa 0, Elopre 0

Quarterscores: 21-16; 39-40; 57-53; 68-all; 84-77