Yu hits dagger 3, Knights survive Cards

MANILA, Philippines — Clinging to a precarious two-point edge after blowing a 10-point lead and losing key cogs to cramps or ejection, Letran looked like its world was falling apart.

Then Fran Yu came and saved the day.

Yu reprised his role as redeemer and bailed Letran out against a rough, rugged Mapua, 67-62, as the Knights gained a share of the lead with St. Benilde and Lyceum of the Philippines in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre yesterday.

The scrappy team captain took matters into his own hands when the three-peat-seeking titlists got into trouble late. He finished with a game-high 15 points that went with five assists, four rebounds and three steals.

It was the kind of game that Yu dished out last Saturday – marked with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and six steals — in powering Letran to an 81-75 win over previously unbeaten CSB.

In one crucial play, Yu stole the ball from Adrian Nocum like taking a candy from a baby then drained a booming triple on the next play to spark a run that gave Letran a 60-50 upper hand.

When their advantage was sliced to two with less than a minute to go, Yu bucked cramps and sank a desperation triple with just three seconds left in the shot clock. That proved to be the dagger.

It was another triumph by Letran over Mapua after the former swept the latter in last season’s finale for its back-to-back crown.

The Knights and the Cardinals were called a total of 55 fouls that resulted to 57 free throws. It included two technical fouls by Letran’s Louie Sangalang and a disqualification foul by teammate Brent Paraiso that led to their exit.

Mapua’s Jasper Salenga was assessed a technical foul for taunting.

Mapua was in it for most of the game but a slip in concentration allowed Letran to get that much-needed cushion late.