Colegio de San Juan de Letran averted a collapse from 19-point up, escaping University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 77-73, in Game 1 of NCAA Season 101 semifinals on Tuesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Knights made a statement early by unleashing a massive 21-2 blast bridging the first and second quarters with Jun Roque, Mark Omega, and Deo Cuajao firing a triple each to break a 22-all deadlock and erect a 43-24 lead.
But the ALTAs showed their fangs in the second half.
It started with a Patrick Sleat scoring eight points as part of a 14-7 rampage to open the third before his three-pointer trimmed the deficit to four, 55-59. Letran, though, did just enough to enjoy a 64-56 cushion heading to the fourth.
But Perpetual refused to surrender the series opener just like that as Sleat buried a triple, JM Tulabut completed a three-point play, and John Abis sank a putback basket to pull the ALTAs to within four, 68-72, in the final three minutes.
Jimboy Estrada then came up clutch again, knocking down a stepback triple from completing two free throws to send Letran closer to a dream finals return.
Titing Manalili, in his first taste of a Final Four action in the seniors level, showed no sign of jitters as he dropped an all-around game of 15 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and six steals.
Estrada finished with 15 markers as well while Chad Gammad, whose three straight triples in the first quarter got things going for Letran, tallied 11 points.
Big men Kevin Santos and Mark Omega were also huge as both bruisers poured six points despite being saddled with fouls all game long.
"Nu'ng second half sabi ko don't relax, babalik at babalik 'yan and well, 'yun na nga 'yung nangyari--nakabalik sila. Then na-foul trouble 'yung big men namin so lumiit kami, nahirapan kami i-sustain 'yung depensa namin sa ilalim," Letran head coach Allen Ricardo said.
"But it happens talaga. I just needed to regroup at i-remind na for us to finish on Friday, we have to get a lot of rebounds."
The Knights now need just one more win to march back to the championship round after missing the last two editions.
For Perpetual, the ALTAs will be needing more than just contributions from the likes of Sleat, Abis, and Gojo Cruz to extend the series and drag the Knights to a decider.
Sleat and Abis led the way as the former FEU guard dropped 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists while the veteran forward churned out 20 markers, nine boards, three steals, and two assists.
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The scores:
Letran 77 - Manalili 15, Estrada 15, Gammad 11, Cuajao 9, Buensalida 6, Omega 6, Santos 6, Roque 5, Tapenio 2, Montecillo 2.
Perpetual 71 - Sleat 21, Abis 20, Boral 11, Gojo Cruz 10, Tulabut 3, Alcantara 3, Duremdes 2, Gelsano 2, Nunez 1, Orgo 0, Casinilio 0, Maglupay 0.
Quarters: 26-22, 50-36, 64-56, 77-73.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
