Deo Cuajao and Jimboy Estrada forged a lethal one-two punch as Colegio de San Juan de Letran got back to its winning ways with a double overtime win over San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 101-98, in the NCAA Season 100 on Tuesday.
Cuajao rose to the occasion by dropping a career-high 34 points behind an efficient 7-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc as the Knights snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 7-6.
The returning Estrada was also stylish in his comeback from a one-game suspension, detonating for a career-best as well with 30 markers together with seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal.
The win momentarily catapulted Letran back to solo fourth, breaking a triple-tie with Lyceum of the Philippines University and Emilio Aguinaldo College while the Stags slipped to 3-10.
"Inisip ko lang na gusto ko lang talaga manalo, gusto lang namin manalo," Cuajao said.
"Sabi nga ni coach, hindi lang para maka-bounce back eh, redemption na rin sa amin."
Letran could have won the game in the regulation, but Paeng Are miraculously knocked down a game-tying three-pointer against the defense of Pao Javillonar to send the game into overtime. Before that, the Knights were once down by as much as 12 points after Are came alive in the third period.
The Stags put up a fight in the first overtime, building an 83-77 lead off back-to-back triples from James Maliwat and Nikko Aguilar. But Cuajao took over, sinking a triple before splitting his freebies for a 90-89 cushion with five seconds to go.
The game, however, didn't end there with TJ Felebrico splitting his own freebies for another deadlock and second extra period.
The Knights then made sure there won't be a third overtime with Estrada burying a pair of charities for a 98-95 lead in 2OT before he issued the dime that led to a Cuajao game-sealing three-pointer.
"For me, for the past three games, kumbaga we need to focus on us. What I'm trying to say is for the past three games, we're always outrebounded and ang dami naming binibigay na offensive rebounds resulting in second chance points," Letran head coach Allen Ricardo said.
Are finished with 27 points as he fouled out early in the second overtime while also grabbing five steals, four assists, and two rebounds while Felebrico had another double-double of 19 markers and 12 boards.
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—JMB, GMA Integrated News
