WANG’S Basketball @27 Strikers-Letran showed steely resolve anew by completing a 93-87 come-from-behind win against No. 1 Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda to move closer in advancing to the PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Finals yesterday at the Ynares Sports Arena.

Kurt Reyson took over in overtime with a personal 7-0 start that spelled the difference as the Knights capped a stellar comeback from 24 points down for a 1-0 lead in the short best-of-three semis series, avenging their 87-90 defeat to the Red Lions in the elims.

It was Wang’s-Letran’s second consecutive overtime victory from a huge deficit after clawing back from 10 points down late in the regulation against Centro Escolar University on Tuesday to advance to the Final Four.

“Uulitin ko lang na Praise God kasi binigyan kami ulit ng pag-asa na manalo. Puro ganito ang game namin pero pasalamat kami dahil nao-overcome namin ‘yung ganitong trial, especially against a very strong team like San Beda,” said coach Rensy Bajar.

“Ang sama ng simula namin. Pero yung mga players namin, kumbaga sa ilang taon na, they’re born-winners. Alam nila paano maglaro sa ganitong sitwasyon. Para sa amin, depensa lang talaga.”

Later, Mark Nonoy shot 22 points as EcoOil-La Salle moved closer in securing a second straight championship appearance with 107-78 rout of University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.

Game 2s are set on Tuesday.

Reyson poured 21 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and OT, Kevin Santos feasted with 17 points and 13 rebounds, Vince Cuajao added 12 while Kyle Tolentino chipped in 10, none bigger than the game-tying triple in the last five seconds to force extra five minutes for the Knights.

With only a one-day break after the quarterfinals, fourth-ranked Wang’s-Letran was dragged into an early 10-34 hole and looked headed into another loss against Marinero-San Beda.

But the Knights woke up and proved their pedigree as the three-time reigning NCAA champion.

Jacob Cortez fired 24 points, including the lead-extending free throws in the last 11 seconds for an 81-78 lead, in a foiled cause for the Red Lions, who saw their five-game winning streak came to an end.

The scores:

First game

Wangs Strikers-Letran 93 – Reyson 32, Santos 17, Cuajao 12, Tolentino 10, Javillonar 8, Fajardo 6, Ariar 6, Morales 2, Go 0, Alarcon 0, Guarino 0, Monje 0.
Marinero-San Beda 87 – Cortez 24, Andrada 13, Visser 10, Jopia 10, Payosing 9, Cuntapay 8, Gallego 5, Alfaro 3, Royo 3, Puno 2, Tagle 0.
Quarterscores: 10-25, 28-44, 55-61, 81-81, 93-87 (OT).

Second game

EcoOil-La Salle 107 – Nonoy 22, Gollena 11, Nwankwo 10, Austria 9, M. Phillips 9, Quiambao 8, Escandor 8, David 6, Alao 6, Abadam 5, Cortez 5, Macalalag 4, B. Phillips 4, Manuel 0.
Perpetual 78 – Razon 17, Nitura 15, Ferreras 14, Pagaran 11, Barcuma 7, Boral 4, Abis 4, Nunez 4, Cuevas 2, Roque 0, Orgo 0, Ramirez 0.
Quarterscores: 27-23, 50-42, 71-60, 107-78.