The undefeated Letran Knights completed a sweep of the NCAA 97 men’s basketball tournament’s elimination round but only after surviving a huge challenge from their rival San Beda Red Lions, 59-56, on Friday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Louie Sangalang posted 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting, alongside two rebounds and two blocks, while Rhenz Abando bucked a slow start to finish with 10 markers, including two clutch free throws, to lead Letran to a perfect 9-0 record after the elims.
Christian Fajarito scored nine points while Jeo Ambohot and Fran Yu each chipped in with seven apiece. Ambohot also grabbed 13 rebounds and block four shots, both game-highs.
Despite a valiant effort, San Beda dropped to 7-2 and slid down to third place behind the Mapua Cardinals, who also hold a 7-2 record but hold the advantage in the head-to-head matchup.
James Kwekuteye led the Red Lions with a game-high 14 points, including 10 in a huge fourth quarter performance, but was the lone Red Lion in double figures in scoring.
Neither team could gain an advantage early as the first quarter ended in a 15-15 deadlock.
The second was more of the same, with defense prevailing for much of the period before JV Gallego exploded for all of San Beda’s points in a 7-2 closing run, including a big three-pointer that put them ahead, 29-26, going into the halftime break.
No one scored more than Gallego's and Fajarito’s seven points for either side at the half.
Letran star Abando was held scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting in the first half while San Beda counterpart James Kwekuteye only had three points on 1-for-7 shooting.
Letran seemed like it had suffered a huge blow when Brent Paraiso, their third leading scorer and one of their top perimeter defenders, fouled out with almost eight minutes left in the third quarter after he was whistled for a personal foul and a technical foul on the same play.
But this only served to energize the Knights, who turned a six-point deficit into a double-digit lead after a blistering 19-3 run – eight of those coming from Abando – from that point.
Abando kicked off the rally as he ran a one on two break against a pair of Red Lions leading to an and-one finish and the free throw that cut San Beda’s lead down to three, 32-29.
He made several other big plays, including a tough finish over traffic and an assist on a Fran Yu triple. He also hit a couple of free throws, including one where the Letran crowd showered him with MVP chants.
Fajarito knocked down two free throws to cap the run, 45-35, with 2:16 left.
An undeterred San Beda squad, though, patiently fought their way back into the game.
Back-to-back baskets from Tony Ynot and Cliff Jopia brought the Red Lions back to within six, 45-39, at the end of the third before San Beda opened the fourth on a 12-2 run, capped by a triple then a layup from Kwekuteye that gave them a 51-47 lead.
A big triple from Ambohot capped another 6-0 run for the Knights, though, who took the lead back at 53-51. Another basket from the Letran big man made it 57-54 with 2:50 remaining.
Kwekuteye responded again to make it a 57-56 game heading into the final minute of the game. He was able to draw a foul on a drive with 32 seconds remaining, but no free throws were awarded as Letran was not yet in the penalty.
San Beda came up empty on the next possession and Abando iced two free throws to make it a three-point game with nine seconds to go.
The Red Lions' last-ditch attempts would not fall through the hoop as time ran out on them.
Letran will finish the season with the number one seed and will qualify for the Final Four outright and with a twice-to-beat advantage. Mapua, as the number two seed, will join them.
San Beda, which had a chance to take the 1-seed if they had prevailed in this one, will drop down to third and will have to compete in the play-in round.
They will face College of Saint Benilde in a 3 vs 4 matchup for the third seed. The loser needs to play against the winner of the Arellano-Perpetual 5 vs 6 game for the last Final Four spot.
The scores:
Letran 59 - Sangalang 12, Abando 10, Fajarito 9, Yu 7, Ambohot 7, Mina 5, Javillonar 4, Reyson 2, Paraiso 2, Olivario 1, Caralipio 0.
San Beda 56 - Kwekuteye 14, Gallego 7, Cortez 6, Ynot 5, Peneula 5, Bahio 4, Amsali 4, Jopia 4, Sanchez 3, Alfaro 2, Cuntapay 2, Abuda 0, Andrada 0, Cometa 0, Fornis 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 26-29, 45-39, 59-56.
—JMB, GMA News
