Colegio de San Juan de Letran made sure not to be on the losing end this time around, frustrating San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 77-69, to get back in the win column in NCAA Season 98 on Wednesday.
King Caralipio led Letran with 13 points while the returning Louie Sangalang contributed in a big way with 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two blocks.
Brent Paraiso, who like Sangalang returned from a two-game suspension, also scored in double figures alongside Rafael Go and Kobe Monje. Veteran Fran Yu, meanwhile, tallied nine points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
The Knights saw what was once an 18-point lead be trimmed down to just six, 58-52, after Kenneth Villapando led Stags’ 8-0 rampage to open the fourth.
But back-to-back triples from Paraiso made it a 66-56 spread as Sangalang clinched Letran a 72-67 lead before he fouled out with 53.1 ticks left.
A huge triple from Kurt Reyson gave the Knights a 75-67 lead with 18 seconds to spare en route to the victory.
The defending champions snapped their two-game losing slump to improve to 4-3 while San Sebastian slipped to 2-4.
Letran outscored San Sebastian in the second quarter, 24 to 14, to take a 38-31 halftime lead with Monje and Sangalang steering the ship for the Knights.
But Caralipio took over in the third period, unleashing eight point as part of an 11-0 run as the Knights’ lead ballooned to 49-35.
A triple from veteran Tommy Olivario had Letran enjoying a 56-38 cushion before they head to the final quarter carrying a 58-44 advantage.
But the Stags made sure to put up a fight down the stretch.
San Sebastian was led by Raymart Escobido and Romel Calahat, who scored 18 and 17 points, respectively.
The scores:
Letran 77 - Caralipio 13, Sangalang 11, Go 11, Paraiso 10, Monje 10, Yu 9, Reyson 5, Olivario 3, Tolentino 3, Santos 2, Bojorcelo 0, Ariar 0, Guarinio 0.
San Sebastian 69 - Escobido 18, Calahat 17, Desoyo 8, Villapando 7, Shanoda 7, Sumoda 5, Concha 3, Felebrico 2, Cosari 2, Altamirano 0, Aguilar 0, Una 0, Yambing 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 38-31, 58-44, 77-69.
—JMB, GMA News
