MANILA – Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights has finally barged into the win column of the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament after an 86-71 rout of the San Sebastian College Golden Stags on Wednesday night at the San Juan Arena.
Vince Cuajao spearheaded the offense with 14 points, Neil Guarino and Kobe Monje added 13 markers apiece, while Kevin Santos hauled 13 rebounds to go with seven points for the three-time defending champions Knights (1-7).
Even with the absence of team captain Kurt Reyson, the Knights went on a scoring blast in the second quarter behind Monje and Nicko Fajardo as they established a 44-24 halftime lead.
It later went up to as high as 26 points at 50-24 on a three-pointer by Monje, but the Stags responded with a furious 22-1 blast behind Romel Calahat as they trimmed the deficit to five, 46-51.
The Knights answered back with a 15-4 rally, capped by a halfcourt shot from Rico Bojorcelo, as they widened the lead to 67-50 after three quarters. It grew to 72-52 in the final quarter after another triple from Bojorcelo.
Rafael Are top-scored for the Stags with 20 points, Calahat had double-double 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Reymart Escobido contributed 12 points as they dropped to 3-5 slate.
Meanwhile, the Mapua University Cardinals relied on a huge second quarter breakaway to defeat the Arellano University Chiefs, 79-65, and stay on top of the standings with 7-1 record. The Chiefs dropped to 1-7.
From a slim 16-15 lead after the first two quarters, the Cardinals created separation from the Chiefs in the second quarter behind Warren Bonifacio and Clint Escamis for a 43-30 halftime lead.
That lead went up to as high as 25 points in the third quarter when Andrei Igliane buried a basket for a 63-38 advantage. The Chiefs attempted to come close but only managed to trim it to 14.
Bonifacio finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, Kobe Dalisay and JC Recto added 12 markers apiece, while Escamis chipped in nine points, nine rebounds, five assists and five steals./PN
BOX SCORE:
LETRAN 86 – Cuajao 14, Guarino 13, Monje 13, Fajardo 9, Ariar 8, Bojorcelo 8, Santos 7, Go 5, Nunag 4, Bautista 3, Javillonar 2, Garupil 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 71 – Are 20, Calahat 14, Escobido 12, Re. Gabat 8, Una 7, Sumoda 6, Shanoda 2, Desoyo 2, De Leon 0, Ra. Gabat 0, Felebrico 0, Singson 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16; 44-24; 67-50; 86-71.
