By MARK REY MONTEJO
Letran turned back Arellano, 87-78, to force a do-or-die game in their quarterfinals series in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Titing Manalili and Jimboy Estrada formed a 1-2 lethal 1-2 punch as they spearheaded Letran’s third-quarter surge that helped turn things around, taking a 69-58 lead after unleashing a vicious 13-0 assault.
T-mac Ongotan tried to save the Chiefs but his effort was simply no match to Letran’s determined stand.
The rubber match is set this Friday, Nov. 28, at the same venue with momentum now clearly on Letran’s side.
The victor in the KO match will face either Perpetual or Jose Rizal University in the semifinals.
For veteran big man Kevin Santos, it was Letran’s last year’s heartbreaking campaign that served as their motivation to move on.
“Sabi ko lang sa mga teammates ko kagabi, maglaro lang kami, ayaw na namin umiyak kasi pinagdaanan na namin ‘yong sakit ng ganun last season eh,” said Santos, who starred with a game-high of 20 points on top of nine rebounds.
“Sa mga practices namin bago ‘to, nag-focus lang kami [and] wala rin kaming buhat [na negative energy] kaya medyo magaan pakiramdam namin,” he added.
Estrada delivered with 22 points, four rebounds and two assists, while Manalili, who played his first playoff match, tallied 15 points, two rebounds, nine assists, one block, and three steals.
T-Mc Ongotan, on the other hand, produced 18 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Basti Valencia contributed 11 points, three rebounds and two assists, but those efforts weren’t to save the Chiefs.
The scores:
LETRAN 87 – Estrada 22, Santos 20, Manalili 15, Cuajao 11, Omega 9, Buensalida 6, Roque 2, Tapenio 2, Gammad 0, Montecillo 0, Rosilio 0.
ARELLANO 78 – Ongotan 18, Valencia 11, Cabotaje 10, Libang 10, Vinoya 9, Camay 8, Demetria 4, Geronimo 4, Hernal 3, Abiera 1, Borromeo 0, Buenaventura 0.
Quarters: 19-27, 48-46, 75-67, 87-78.
