Letran stays unbeaten
JP Abcede
John Wilson unleashed back-to-back 3-point bombs in the last two minutes to help power Jose Rizal University to a 79-74 win over defending champion San Beda College yesterday even as Letran streaked to its sixth straight win in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
Though it was 6-foot-6 center James Sena who shattered a 69-69 count with two free throws, it was Wilson who made the major difference as the Heavy Bombers handed the Red Lions their first defeat in six outings.
Lost in the glitter of JRU’s triumph was Letran’s thrilling 67-60 win over stubborn Mapua in the other senior game.
Wilson, who had little luck from three-point territory in the first 38 minutes of the game after making only 1-of-10, got perfect handoff screen from Sena to bury his second triple that gave the Heavy Bombers a breather, 74-69, with still 1:26 left.
But the Red Lions refused to fade away as Borgie Hermida converted his two free throws off Marc Cagoco’s foul to move within 71-74 with only 42 ticks left.
Then came Wilson’s final act.
Left unguarded, Wilson punished the Red Lions by scoring his third triple that all but flattened the defending champions, 77-71, only 14 ticks left.
San Beda’s Pong Escobal hit a triple in the next play but his heroic was a little too late. Sena scored two more free throws for the final tally.
The win was actually the first for JRU over San Beda since scoring a 74-71 win in August of 2004.
"They were giving us the three-point shot," said Bombers coach Ariel Vanguardia. "They were zoning us the whole game."
"Every time you beat a champion team, parang champion ka na rin," said Vanguardia, who had a run-in with San Beda coach Frankie Lim last year.
With their sixth sraight win, Letran looks headed to topping the first round elims no matter what happens to their game against San Beda next week.
San Beda is likely to forfeit its won match over College of St. Benilde after Sam Ekwe wore a wrong uniform.
Sena and Cagoco finished with 18 points. Sena highlighted his brilliant game with 13 rebounds.
Protecting a precarious, 61-60 lead, Letran’s John Meligrito rose to the occasion by making a short jumper on a feed by Dino Daa, who later gave the Knights a 65-60 lead on a hook shot.
After the Cardinals bungled their offensive play, Rey Guevarra, who tallied 14 points, sealed the win with another basket.
The Cardinals slipped to 4-2.
In juniors, San Beda beat the Light Bombers, 89-81, and Letran manhandled Malayan High School, 136-53.
First Game (Jrs.)
SBC 89 - Magat, M. 20, Ludovice 14, Javier 13, Moralde 13, Dela Cruz 12, Feliciano 6, Pe 4, Mozo 3, Ayala 2, Magat, N. 2, Verzosa 0, Pujante 0.
JRU 81 - Agovida 26, Vigil 22, Saret 18, Madlangbayan 7, Villena 3, Oliveria 3, Vital 2, Barranco 0, Matias 0, Lontoc 0.
Quarters: 18-15, 34-31, 57-51, 89-81.
Second Game (Jrs.)
LETRAN 136 - Tampus 36, Alas 28, Ongtenco 15, Sumang 12, De Guia 12, Vasig 7, Villanueva 7, Khobuntin 4, Roxas 4, Katigbak 4, Reyes 3, Crisologo 2, Satairapan 2, Sugahara 0, Gonzales 0.
MALAYAN 53 - Domingo 16, Basas 15, Sevilla 11, Abad 9, Roxas 2, Targa 0, Espiritu 0, Alejandro 0, Pobre 0, Castillo 0.
Quarters: 30-16, 67-31, 105-43, 136-53.
Third Game (Srs.)
JRU 79 - Sena 18, Cagoco 18, Wilson 9, Bulangis 9, Nocom 8, Kabigting 7, Hayes 6, Njei 4, Almario 0, Agas 0, Pradas 0.
SBC 74 - Menor 16, Escobal 16, Hermida 10, Ekwe 8, Lanete 8, Gamalinda 6, Taupa 4, Pascual 3, Taganas 3, Tirona 0, Marcelo 0.
Quarters: 15-14, 35-37, 54-52, 79-74.
Fourth Game (Srs.)
LETRAN 67 - Daa 17, Guevarra 14, Jazul 10, Melegrito 8, Cabonce 4, Foronda 4, Del Rosario 3, Cortes 2, Dangcal 2, Latonio 1, Ranises 0.
MIT 60 - Mazo 18, Mangahas 11, Pascual, N. 10, Banal 6, Dela Peña 5, Acosta 4, Guillermo 3, Pascual, J. 2, Sarangay 1.
Quarters: 18-21, 34-32, 53-51, 67-60.
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