The defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights cruised to their fourth consecutive win while also handing Mapua University its first defeat of the NCAA’s 97th season in an 80-60 decision on Friday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
Jeo Ambohot led the Letran romp with game-highs of 16 points and 12 rebounds while Rhenz Abando contributed 14 points, nine boards, and two assists.
Both teams entered the game with identical 3-0 records but only the Knights moved up to 4-0 as the Cardinals dropped to 3-1.
Letran seemed like they hit an early speed bump when big man Louie Sangalang was whistled for a disqualifying foul in the first quarter after throwing the ball at the face of Mapua’s Warren Bonifacio.
But that hardly deterred the Knights as Ambohot dominated inside early before Abando and King Caralipio went on a barrage of three-pointers to open up a 20-12 lead at the end of the opening period.
Despite a spark from the Mapua bench led by Toby Agustin and Joaquin Garcia, Letran continued to pour it on in the second quarter, extending their lead to 15 points, 47-32, by halftime. Ambohot tallied 11 points and six rebounds over the first two periods whle Caralipio had eight markers.
The story wasn’t much different in the second half.
In the third quarter, it was the Letran defense that shone as they surrendered only 10 points to Mapua. Ambohot and Abando, on the other hand, combined to score 10, matching the entire output of the Cardinals between just the two of them.
Brent Paraiso, meanwhile, knocked down two triples early in the fourth and Abando followed it up with a highlight-reel dunk with the and-one to make it a whopping 26-point difference at 72-46.
Paraiso and Pao Javillonar both reached double-figures with 10 markers apiece for the Knights.
The Cardinals were led by Agustin's 14 points while Jeric Pido added nine.
Letran will head into a break with their next scheduled game coming next Satuday, April 17, against Lyceum of the Philippines University. Mapua, meanwhile, will be back on the floor on Sunday, April 10, against Arellano University.
The scores:
Letran 80 — Ambohot 16, Abando 14, Paraiso 10, JAvillonar 10, Caralipio 8, Fajarito 6, Mina 5, Reyson 5, Yu 3, Guarino 3, Olivario 0, Sangalang 0.
Mapua — Agustin 14, Pido 9, Hernandez 8, Gamboa 6, Bonifacio 6, Garcia 6, Mercado 4, Lacap 3, Milan 2, Asuncion 2, Nocum 0, Salenga 0, Sual 0.
Quarters: 20-12, 47-32, 63-42, 80-60.
—JMB, GMA News
