Knights hold off Blazers

Letran played a spoiler’s role as it drew huge games from Ronjay Enrile and Boyet Bautista to stun St. Benilde, 85-80, yesterday in the 78th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The exciting duo of Enrile and Bautista, who erupted for 23 points apiece, provided the firepower in a series of runs connecting the third and fourth quarters as the Knights, back-to-back champions in 1998 and 1999, sealed their seventh victory in 13 matches.

Enrile who once stunned the Boston Celtics’ Paul Pierce in an exhibition three-point shootout held in the country a year back, and Bautista took turns in delivering the blows that foiled the Blazers’ bid to move closer to a twice-to-beat incentive given to top two teams.

Play was interrupted for more than five minutes when Alas and some of his players stormed to the other side in a heated verbal tussle with St. Benilde’s coaching staff.

It was learned that Enrile complained that he was allegedly punched on the back by Blazers assistant coach Arsenio Dy-Sangco with less than a minute and a half to go with Letran up, 78-72.

St. Benilde absorbed its fourth loss against nine triumphs, a shade behind defending champion San Sebastian’s 10-3, as it primed itself for a crucial match against Philippine Christian University (9-4) tomorrow.

In the juniors’ division, the Letran Squires waylaid the St. Benilde Greenies, 97-69, to remain at second place with a 10-3 late behind the rampaging San Beda Red Cubs, unbeaten in 13 outings.

In the second game, last year’s runner-up Jose Rizal pummeled University of Perpetual Help of Rizal, 88-79, to forge a three-way tie at second place with PCU and St. Benilde with 9-4 records. It was the Altas’ 12th defeat against a win.