Filoil: Letran erases 18-point deficit to stun Perpetual ahead of quarterfinals

Colegio de San Juan de Letran came back from an 18-point deficit to frustrate University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 70-66, closing out its elimination round run at the 2026 Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Wednesday.

The Knights found themselves in a 36-18 hole in the second period before mounting a second-half storm to turn back the ALTAs in a rematch of last year's NCAA Final Four showdown.

Rookie Justin Cargo dazzled with 15 points and five rebounds off the bench while George Diamante and Jimboy Estrada chipped in 11 and 10 markers each as Letran cruised to its eighth win in a row for an 8-1 card.

Perpetual seized the 36-18 cushion when incoming rookie Jim Corpuz fired five straight points off a triple and a layup halfway through the second frame. But the Knights replied with a 17-8 run fueled by Cargo and Diamante to end the first half trailing by a single digit, 44-35.

Veteran big man Kevin Santos flashed his improved perimeter touch, draining a triple to pull Letran level at 55-all late in the third quarter before Lance Siena's own three-pointer made it a 58-55 Letran lead ahead of the fourth.

The Knights never looked back after that, with Santos, Titing Manalili, and Diamante providing the finishing kick.

LA Casinillo led Perpetual with 19 points while Mark Gojo Cruz chipped in nine markers, four rebounds, and one assist as the ALTAs finished the preseason tourney with a 3-6 record.

—JKC, GMA News