Letran falls to Guang Ming, but still punches Filoil QF ticket

Colegio de San Juan de Letran absorbed an 84-79 beating at the hands of Guang Ming College in their second play-in match on Thursday, but the Knights will still advance to the 2023 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup quarterfinals.

Letran has a superior quotient by virtue of its 85-73 victory on Wednesday during their first play-in game. The win set up a QF clash between Letran and De La Salle University. 

The Knights trailed by as many as 23 points late in the third, 71-48, before they unleashed a strong fourth quarter with veteran big man Pao Javillonar going for a jumper that made it an 80-75 affair with 2:08 to go.

Enrico Bojorcelo then sank both his freebies to make it a one possession ballgame, 82-79, but the Knights simply ran out of time to complete the comeback, especially with main gunner Kurt Reyson not suiting up. 

Dikachi Ududo starred for Guang Ming with a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds, along with two steals, one assist, and one block, while Carl Dumalagan chipped in 18 markers off the bench.

Without Reyson, Edziel Galoy stepped up big time for Letran, as he finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, and three steals, while Javillonar churned out 19 markers and six boards. —VBL, GMA Integrated News