MANILA – Kevin Santos delivered a clutch go-ahead basket as the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights edged the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 71-69, in a thrilling NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball on Sunday at the FilOil EcoOil Center in San Juan.
Santos connected a go-ahead basket, his lone conversion in the game, from a pass by Nathaniel Montecillo to surge the Knights ahead for good at 71-69 with 13.3 seconds remaining.
Prior to that, the Knights were down by as many as 14 points at 60-46 before Deo Cuajao and Johnsherick Estrada anchored a huge scoring run to knot the score at 69-all.
Cuajao spearheaded the attack for the Knights with 20 points, Estrada contributed 17 points and Pao Javillonar ended with 13 markers as they secured their third victory in five matches.
“I told Deo na hangga’t may oras pa to just shoot his shot and don’t hesitate,” said Knights head coach Allen Ricardo. “Tiwala naman ako sa kanya kasi nakikita ko naman na masipag siya (mag shooting) sa practice.”
Winston Ynot top-scored for the Blazers with 15 points, while Allen Liwag and Mark Sangco added 12 and 11 markers, respectively, as they suffered their first defeat after a 4-0 start.
In the first game, Arellano University Chiefs secured their first win of the tournament after beating San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags, 87-73.
T-Mc Ongotan led the way with a career-high of 21 points, alongside five rebounds, five assists, and a steal, while Lorenz Capulong contributed a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Chiefs improved to a 1-4 win-loss record.
The Chiefs relied on a strong start as it outscored the Golden Stags, 32-20, in the first quarter alone before surviving a second quarter rally by the Stags for a 51-43 halftime lead.
Arellano led by as many as 17 points at 77-60 at the 7:46 mark of the fourth period before cruising onto their first victory of the season./PN
