Colegio de San Juan de Letran overcame De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 71-69, on Sunday in NCAA Season 100 at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The win improved the Knights' standings to 3-2, while the Blazers were dealt their first loss in the season as they slipped to 4-1.
Benilde was leading 60-46 at the 8:43 mark of the fourth period before a Deo Cuajao triple and Jimboy Estrada jumper cut Letran's deficit to five. Tony Ynot answered with a triple, but Cuajao connected anew from beyond the arc. Mark Sangco then widened Benilde's margin at the 5:36 mark to give the Blazers a 65-54 lead, but Cuajao had a personal 6-0 run with a triple and three free throws off a Gab Cometa foul to put the Knights within two.
Sangco's triple put Benilde at 68 but Letran rallied late as baskets from Estrada inched the Intramuros-based squad closer to Benilde, 68-67 with 1:42 left. Estrada's foul on Justine Sanchez put the latter to the line where he made a split. Joseph Nunag tied the game at 69, but Tony Ynot's attempts went for naught. Kevin Santos then delivered his lone basket which eventually sealed the deal as Anton Eusebio missed his triple.
"Talagang 'yung mga bata pinakita nila ang tapang nila. In-emphasize ko ang courage. Kailangan matatag tayo, walang susuko. Kahit anong challenges, and nakita ko sa kanila 'yun," Knights head coach Allen Ricardo said.
Cuajao posted 20 points, two assists, a rebound, and a steal, while Jimboy Estrada added 17 points, alongside 5 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Javillonar added 13 points.
Ynot had 15 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Allen Liwag had 12 points, 15 boards, and five assists.
Letran will face Emilio Aguinaldo College on Wednesday, while Benilde will try to bounce back against Lyceum of the Philippines University on Friday.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
