Colegio de San Juan de Letran displayed its poise down the stretch to deny Lyceum of the Philippines University, 69-64, in NCAA Season 98 on Friday.
Brent Paraiso topscored with 13 points while Louie Sangalang had a big double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds for the Knights, who extended its win streak to seven games while avenging its first round loss to Lyceum.
Kurt Reyson added 10 markers and Fran Yu also chipped in with nine points and seven assists as Letran improved to 10-3.
Lyceum, on the other hand, absorbed its first set of back-to-back losses of the season to drop to 8-5.
After three tight quarters, Letran started to light it up in the fourth with gunners Tommy Olivario, Reyson, and Paraiso bringing them to a 57-49 lead.
But Lyceum then tied the match at 62-all after a huge three-pointer from John Barba with 1:25 left.
Sangalang, who made some crucial defensive stops in the payoff period, then made a putback basket for a 64-62 spread.
With 33 ticks left to spare, King Caralipio went for a left-handed layup over Mclaude Guadaña, 66-62, before Yu sank three freebies.
Both teams engaged in a tight first half with Letran and Lyceum knotted at 31 as Sangalang was already near the double-double mark with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Barba and team captain Enzo Navarro, meanwhile, paced the Pirates with six and five apiece.
Paraiso, who had three fouls at the half, then fired back-to-back triples to send Letran to a 50-44 late in the third before the Knights ended the frame holding on to a slim 50-46 cushion.
Barba finished the game as the lone Pirate in double figures with a game-high 16 points.
The scores:
Letran 69 - Paraiso 13, Sangalang 12, Reyson 10, Yu 9, Caralipio 7, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Go 4, Santons 3, Ariar 2, Miclat 0, Guarinio 0.
Lyceum 64 - Barba 16, Bravo 9, Navarro 8, Guadana 8, Larupay 6, Valdez 6, Uali 4, Villegas 4, Montano 3, Cunanan 0, Penafiel 0.
—JMB, GMA News
