Knights roll to 4th win in row, repel Stags

Games tomorrow (Perpetual Help Gym) 

2 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs San Beda (jrs) 

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs San Beda (srs) 

MANILA, Philippines - Letran canned in four charities in the clutch as it thwarted San Sebastian in overtime, 79-75, to firm up its hold of the third spot in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

Rey Nambatac came away with 23 points while JP Calvo and Jerrick Balanza knocked down the marginal baskets from the line in the closing seconds of extension to secure the Knights’ fourth straight win and fifth overall against three defeats.

That kept Letran within striking distance of unbeaten Lyceum (7-0) and second running San Beda (6-1) while moving two games ahead of No. 4 Jose Rizal U (3-3).

The Stags fell to 3-4.

Earlier, Nigerian Prince Eze put in a double-double effort as Perpetual Help downed a skidding Arellano U side, 68-59, yesterday to bolster its semifinal bid.

Eze, now the Altas’ main man following the departure of Bright Akhuetie, shot a career-high 23 points and hauled down 21 rebounds with five shot blocks to power the Las Piñas-based squad to their third win against four losses. 

“He worked and prepared hard knowing he will get more minutes this year,” said Perpetual Help coach Jimwell Gican. 

GJ Ylagan backed up Eze with 11 points and eight boards while the rest held Arellano’s top gun Kent Salado to 14 points on a woeful five-of-14 shooting. Salado also committed six of his team’s 15 turnovers that hastened their downfall. 

The win should also serve as a big boost for Perpetual Help which will host defending champion San Beda when the NCAA on Tour resumes tomorrow at the Altas gym.

In the other game, Ervin Grospe came through with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists as Jose Rizal U smothered a depleted Emilio Aguinaldo College side, 77-48, to improve to 3-3. 

Jed Mendoza and Abdul Sawat contributed 15 and 10 points, respectively. 

The Generals, now without Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou for the rest of the season due to a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), slipped to 3-4. 

The scores: 

First Game 

Perpetual Help 68 – Eze 23, Ylagan 11, Dagangon 10, Clemente 8, Yuhico 7, Pido 5, Coronel 4, Mangalino 0, Hao 0, Tamayo 0, Lucente 0 

Arellano U 59 – Salado 14, Abanes 13, Flores 9, Canete 7, Enriquez 4, Ongolo Ongolo 4, Nicholls 3, Villoria 3, Meca 2, Alcoriza 0, Dela Cruz 0, Taywan 0, Concepcion 0, Padilla 0 

Quarterscores: 15-10, 33-25, 47-44, 68-59 

Second Game 

Jose Rizal 77 – Grospe 19, Mendoza 15, Sawat 10, Poutouochi 9, Dela Virgen 6, Teodoro 6, Bordon 5, Abdul Razak 4, Castor 2, Lasquety 1, Pontejos 0, David 0 

EAC 48 – Diego 13, Garcia 12, Onwubere 5, Corilla 4, Bugarin 3, Bautista 3, Guzman 3, Tampoc 3, Munsayac 2, Pascua 0, Mendoza I 0, Neri 0, Altache 0, Mendoza J 0 

Quarterscores: 14-10, 37-21, 65-32, 77-48

Third Game

Letran 79 – Nambatac 23, Calvo 12, Ambohot 11, Balanza 10, Quinto 5, Mandreza 5, Gedaria 5, Caralipio 3, Pascual 3, Taladua 2, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Vacaro 0, De Villa 0

San Sebastian 75 – Calisaan 18, Navarro 14, Calma 11, David 10, Bulanadi 10, Ilagan 8, Gayosa 3, Mercado 1, Baetiong 0, Capobres 0, Costelo 0, Are 0

Quarterscores: 17-13, 33-27, 53-52, 71-71 (Reg.), 79-75 (OT)