Letran’s Rex Villanueva and Alex Gazzingan challenges Perpetual’s Lebron Jhames Daep in this fourth quarter action of the NCAA juniors basketball championship opener yesterday. Photo by Dennis Abrina
Squires a win away
LETRAN moved one win away from repeating as champions as it dominated University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the second half to pull off a 97-80 victory in the NCAA juniors basketball Finals yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Moises Manalili scored a season-high 35 points and flirted on a triple-double performance with nine rebounds and nine assists to lead the Squires.
George Diamante had a double-double of 14 points and 16 boards while June Silorio and Jolo Navarro were the other Letran players in double digits with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
The Squires go for the jugular in Game 2 at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the San Juan arena.
“I just told the boys during halftime na they just have to stay composed offensively and defensively para maka-pull away tayo. Nangyari naman, nakinig sila sa game plan, we pulled away and we controlled the fourth quarter,” said coach Allen Ricardo on Letran’s second half turnaround.
The Squires are wary of what the Altas can bring as they lost to the same team in the elimination round, 94-88, last March 1.
“Gusto na po namin tapusin, siyempre gusto na naming magpahinga and makasama mga family namin,” said Manalili.
Jan Pagulayan came through with 17 points, six rebounds and four assists while LeBron Jhames Daep added 12 points, seven boards and three assists.
MVP contender Amiel Acido struggled offensively with 10 points on 4-of-14 shooting.
The scores:
Letran (97) – Manalili 35, Silorio 15, Diamante 14, Navarro 12, Gazzingan 9, Baliling 8, Padilla 2, Reyes 2, Hugo 0, Golez 0, Cruz 0, Villanueva 0.
Perpetual (80) – Pagulayan 17, Daep 12, Acido 10, Roluna 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Diaz 8, Asuncion 7, Borja 6, Callangan 0, Baldoria 0, Ayon 0, Valencia 0.
Quarterscores: 29-20, 45-46, 77-61, 97-80.
