NCAA Things get chippy between SSC-R and JRU during their NCAA men’s basketball game yesterday. NCAA-GMA photo

Letran in vengeful win vs Lyceum

October 29, 2022 Theodore P. Jurado 280 views

DEFENDING champion Letran avenged its first round loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University with a 69-64 win in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Knights extended their season-high winning streak to seven games and improved to 10-3 overall in the second place.

King Caralipio produced the game’s biggest play, scoring a lay-up off Mac Guadaña that gave Letran a 66-62 cushion with 35 seconds remaining.

The Pirates, who failed to follow up their 82-75 conquest of the Knights in the first round, have lost three of four second round contests and dropped to 8-5 in fourth place.

In the second game which also went down the wire, San Sebastian turned back Jose Rizal University, 72-68, in a highly-physical encounter to keep its Final Four hopes alive with a 4-6 card.

Raymart Escobido’s two free throws gave the Stags a 71-68 buffer and the Bombers committed a bizarre inbound turnover courtesy of Jonathan Medina in the final 4.1 seconds doomed the Mandaluyong-based squad.

Playing for the second time in three days, JRU suffered its fourth loss in nine games to remain outside the Final Four range.

Brent Paraiso continued to deliver for Letran with 13 points, three assists and two steals while Mark Sangalang recorded a double-double with 12 points and 18 rebounds, the second highest behind University of Perpetual Help System Dalta’s Mark Omega with 22 boards.

“Advantage kami sa height kaya hindi kami dapat ma-outrebound ng kalaban,” said Sangalang, who also had two blocks and two assists. “Para sa akin, ang pinakamahalaga talaga sa huli ang panalo.”

Letran remained undefeated since Paraiso and Sangalang returned from two-game suspensions midway in the first round.

“Sa practice namin inuumpisahan kasi noong mga unang games nga namin bago kami ma-suspend parang talagang lamang yung sa test of emotions, test of character talaga,” said Sangalang.

“Sa practice, ginagawa namin parang always positive na lang kami kapag may nagkakamali, itatama namin. Tuturuan namin ang isa’t isa. Ganoon lang, kung anong dapat gawin para pagdating sa dito game, good run na lang. Kasi noonh first round, parang ang gulo namin tignan lalo na kapag hinahabol na kami sa huli, nawawala kami ng composure,” he added.

The Knights noted one major adjustment in their turnaround after a 3-3 start.

“More on defense na yung inayos namin,” said Sangalang.

JM Barba led the way for LPU with 16 points.

Rookie Rhinwill Yambing came through with 17 points, four rebounds and two steals while Rommel Calahat contributed 12 points and four boards.

Joshua Guiab had 16 points and matched Sangalang’s 18-rebound effort while Ry dela Rosa shot 15 points for the Bombers.

The scores:

First game

Letran (69) — Paraiso 13, Sangalang 12, Reyson 10, Yu 9, Caralipio 7, Javillonar 5, Olivario 4, Go 4, Santos 3, Ariar 2, Miclat 0, Guarino 0.
LPU (64) — Barba 16, Bravo 9, Guadaña 8, Navarro 8, Valdez 6, Larupay 6, Umali 4, Villegas 4, Montaño 3, Cunanan 0, Peñafiel 0.
Quarterscores: 16-15, 31-31, 50-46, 69-64

Second game

SSC-R (72) — Yambing 17, Calahat 12, Suico 10, Altamirano 7, Villapando 7, Are 6, Escobido 5, Una 2, Cosari 2, Concha 2, Sumoda 2, Paglinawan 0, Barroga 0.
JRU (68) — Guiab 16, Dela Rosa 15, Amores 12, Sy 5, Dionisio 5, Arenal 4, Medina 4, Celis 3, Tan 2, Abaoag 2, Gonzales 0, Miranda 0, Villarin 0, De Jesus 0, Joson 0.
Quarterscores: 12-22, 40-34, 53-57, 72-68

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