Letran thwarts Enderun, gains third straight triumph in PBA D -League

MANILA, Philippines — Petron-Letran overcame a challenge from Family Mart-Enderun in the second half, notch its third straight win in the PBA D-League yesterday.

The Knights opened the fourth with six straight points to restore a double-digit lead at 61-48 then fended off another fightback by the Titans at the finish to hike their mark to 3-1 and join Cignal-Ateneo and Che’Lu Bar and Grill at third in the Aspirants’ Group.

“Enderun played well. They gave us a good defense that we didn’t expect. We got a bit rattled but the players need to learn to stay composed in those kinds of situation. That’s the beauty of the D-League, we learn a lot here,” said Petron-Letran coach Bonnie Tan.

Alvin Pasaol led the Knights with 24 points, 10 in the third which helped the squad erect a 15-point lead at 48-33 with 5:37 left in the frame.

But Valandre Chauca also sizzled on the other side of the court for Family Mart-Enderun, hitting two triples and dishing out two assists in its 13-2 assault that trimmed Petron-Letran’s lead down to four, 50-46, late in the third.

He also drilled in another triple that cut the Knights’ double-digit lead anew, 73-66, with 25.8 remaining in the match.

He finished with a game-high 22 points for the Titans which slid to their fourth loss.

“We know that Enderun will come back in the match because they did not come here just to lose,” said Tan.

Note: No games tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday due to the PBA All-Star Weekend in Calasiao, Pangasinan.