Arellano University ended its string of heartbreaks after frustrating Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 87-80, to break into the win column of NCAA Season 99 on Sunday.
The Chiefs improved to 1-4 while the Knights dropped to a surprising 0-5 start.
Arellano mounted a huge rally in the fourth, opening the frame with a 10-3 run led by two triples from Jade Talampas and Felix Villarente for a 74-68 cushion.
But second-year player Kobe Monje kept Letran afloat, burying a long bomb to close the gap at 75-73 before Troy Valencia drove to the basket as the Chiefs’ lead ballooned to six, 81-75, with 2:08 left.
Letran's Kurt Reyson continued to struggled to connect, going wide on his two triple attempts.
Dominic Dayrit then knocked down a corner triple to give the Chiefs a commanding 84-77 lead with 25.2 ticks left to play.
Villarente starred for Arellano with a team-high 15 points alongside six assists and one steal while Valencia chimed in with 14 markers. Talampas collected 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
Monje paced the defending champions with a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds laced with five assists and two steals while Reyson and Cuajao chipped in 16 and 15 markers apiece.
Scores:
Arellano 87- Villarente 15, Valencia 14, Talampas 11, Sunga 10, Abastillas 9, Ongotan 5, Yanes 5, Dayrit 5, Capulong 5, Geronimo 4, Mallari 4, dela Cruz 0.
Letran 80 - Monje 18, Reyson 16, Cuajao 15, Santos 9, Ariar 7, Javillonar 5, Nunag 4, Garupil 4, Fajardo 2, Guarino 0.
Quarterscores: 25-27; 47-50; 64-65; 87-80.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
