Colegio de San Juan de Letran proved to be trouble for defending champion San Beda University after a 94-68 statement victory in the NCAA Season 98 juniors basketball tournament on Friday.
Letran joined University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and Mapua University as the early leaders with similar 2-0 cards while San Beda, which was coming off a lopsided win over Lyceum of the Philippines University, dropped to 1-1.
The Squires were quick to make the adjustment early on, erasing what was once a 16-point deficit to end the half at a stalemate, 41-41, with Emman Anabo, Jonathan Manalili, and George Diamante showing the way.
They continued flexing their offensive prowess come the third period, opening the frame with an 11-2 run before the Red Cubs countered with a 10-0 rampage of their own to regain the lead, 53-52.
But Anabo and Arwin Alforque instigated another run for Letran as they ended the penultimate canto enjoying a 14-point lead, 67-53. Andrei Gemao, who was limited to just three points at the half, knocked down a triple to put Letran up again by 17, 76-59.
Gemao then completed an alley-oop slam off an assist from Manalili to put the exclamation with 13.9 ticks to go.
Anabo finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and one assist while Manalili had 22 markers, six dimes, four boards, two blocks, and one steal both off the bench. Gemao was able to collect 10 points as Diamante almost had a double-double outing with his nine points and 12 rebounds.
Andrei Dungo paced San Beda with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and one steal.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
