The drought is finally over.
After a series of heartbreaks, an undermanned Colegio de San Juan de Letran overcame San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 86-71, to bag its maiden win convincingly on Wednesday in the NCAA Season 99.
Letran, which was missing the services of veteran guard Kurt Reyson, has improved to 1-7 while San Sebastian dropped to 3-5.
Neil Guarino stepped up for short-handed Letran with 13 points on 4-of-5 from beyond the arc alongside three assists, two blocks, one rebound, and one steal.
The 23-year-old wingman dropped three of his four three-pointers in the second half to help fend off the San Sebastian rally.
Despite the absence of their team captain, the Knights showed they were the hungrier team by establishing a 44-24 halftime lead with Nicko Fajardo and Kobe Monje stepping up for the embattled Letran.
Monje’s triple turned it to a 26-point cushion early in the third, 50-24, but the Stags would retaliate with a furious 22-1 blitz led by veteran Romel Calahat as they trimmed the deficit to five, 46-51.
The Knights, though, closed out the third ahead by another double-digit, 67-50, courtesy of a 15-4 run capped by a Rico Bojorcelo buzzer-beater half-court shot.
Thanks to Andrey Guarino’s hot-shooting outing, the three-time defending champions mounted a 72-52 cushion in the fourth before Bojorcelo once again nailed a long bomb for an 81-63 advantage.
Rookie Deo Cuajao also shone with 14 points after being held to just four in the first half to go with five rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block while Monje and Fajardo chipped in 13 and 9 markers, respectively.
The loss spoiled a double-double effort from Calahat, who churned out 14 points and 11 rebounds together with five steals.
Letran will close out the first round on Sunday in a finals rematch with Benilde while San Sebastian takes on San Beda on Friday.
Letran 86- Cuajao 14, Guarino 13, Monje 13, Fajardo 9, Ariar 8, Bojorcelo 8, Santos 7, Go 5, Nunag 4, Bautista 3, Javillonar 2, Garupil 0.
San Sebastian 71- Are 20, Calahat 14, Ecobido 12, Re. Gabat 8, Una 7, Sumoda 6, Shanoda 2, Desoyo 2, de Leon 0, Ra. Gabat 0, Felebrico 0, Singson 0.
Quarterscores: 20-16; 44-24; 67-50; 86-71.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
