Colegio de San Juan de Letran extended its winning streak to five after taking down Arellano University, 83–65, on Sunday in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Centre in San Juan.
The Chiefs trailed 64–58 with 7:30 remaining in the fourth quarter before the Knights went on a 7–2 run, five of which came from Mark Denver Omega, to claim a 10-point lead.
Renzo Abiera then trimmed the deficit for the Chiefs anew, but another Omega basket, following Chad Gammad’s split at the line, pushed Letran ahead, 74–62.
After King Vinoya’s free throw off a Deo Cuajao foul, the latter answered with a triple with less than two minutes left. Consecutive baskets from Aaron Buensalida and a late jumper by Jimboy Estrada then sealed the victory for the Knights.
“We’re just trying to get better, game by game,” head coach Allen Ricardo said.
“Little by little, we just try to get better, get more wins, para makaposisyon kami sa top two spots,” he added, as the Knights improved to 5–3 for second place in Group B.
Omega registered a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Knights, while Kevin Santos was a rebound shy of his own double-double with 18 points and nine boards. Jimboy Estrada added 15 points, while Titing Manalili dished out 11 assists alongside eight points and five rebounds.
Abiera led the Chiefs with 15 points, while Vinoya chipped in 14, as Arellano slipped to 3–5.
The scores:
Letran 83 - Santos 19, Omega 18, Estrada 15, Gammad 9, Manalili 8, Cuajao 8, Buensalida 6, Rosilio 0, Tapenio 0, Roque 0, Yusi 0.
Arellano 65 - Abiera 15, Vinoya 14, Cabotaje 7, Camay 6, Geronimo 6, Ongotan 6, Valencia 5, Demetria 4, Hernal 2, Libang 0, Borromeo 0, Miller 0, Acop 0, Buenaventura 0.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
