By: Joaquin Cortez
With Titing Manalili hampered by foul trouble early in the game, Denzil Walker stepped up in his debut as Season 101 runners-up Colegio de San Juan de Letran held off University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 84-77, on the opening day of the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The two teams last met in the semifinals in December, when Letran swept Perpetual en route to a runner-up finish after falling to eventual champion and Season 102 host San Beda University in the Finals.
Letran also won their group-stage meeting in Season 101, 63–56.
“We’re trying to process this [and] trying to get better one game at a time,” Letran head coach Allen Ricardo said. “Eventually, nag-click ‘yong depensa namin … especially ang liit ng lineup namin. ‘Yon lang ang isang sandata na pressure, pressure, pressure.”
Walker led all scorers with 21 points and two steals, while Jimboy Estrada added 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds in their senior debuts.
Kevin Santos chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds, while Manalili finished with 12 points and eight assists in exactly 21 minutes of play.
After picking up his fourth foul with 5:02 remaining in the third quarter, Manalili found himself limited for the remainder of the frame before redeeming himself when it mattered most. He delivered timely baskets and assists down the stretch to help Letran secure its first victory in Group B.
Perpetual trailed by as many as 10 points, 30-20, in the second quarter but stayed within striking distance with an 18-6 run behind baskets from Jan Pagulayan and JM Tulabut, trimming Letran’s lead to two, 38-36, at halftime.
Neither team could pull away in the third quarter at first. But Letran closed the frame with an 8-3 spurt, punctuated by Jimboy Estrada’s triple, to take a 59-55 lead into the final period.
After a Justin Cargo basket gave Letran a 72-69 advantage, the Knights lost Walker to fouls with more than five minutes remaining after he was called for a reach-in foul on Shawn Orgo.
The Altas then threatened to seize control, with Pagulayan knocking down a crucial three-pointer with two minutes left to tie the game at 74-all.
Letran responded with seven unanswered points, capped by a Manalili layup that put the Knights ahead, 81-74.
Pagulayan made one last push with another three-pointer to cut the deficit to four, 81-77, but Gelo Gelsano missed a midrange jumper that could have brought Perpetual within two.
Kevin Santos then sank his free throws to seal the victory for Letran.
Letran will look to continue its momentum when it faces San Sebastian College on Friday, September 18, at 5:00 PM at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan City.
Pagulayan spearheaded Perpetual’s offense with 18 points and six rebounds, while Gelo Gelsano and LA Casinillo added 11 points apiece for the Altas.
Meanwhile, Perpetual will look for its first win of the season against Emilio Aguinaldo College on Thursday, September 17, at 3:00 PM at the same venue.
The Scores:
Letran 84 – Walker 21, Estrada 18, Santos 15, Manalili 12, Cargo 8, Buensalida 5, Gammad 3, Diamante 2, Montecillo 0, Reyes 0 , Hugo 0
Perpetual Help 77 – Pagulayan 18, Gelsano 11, Casinillo 11, Gojo Cruz 8, Tulabut 8, Orgo 7, Borja 6, Cauguiran 3, Cristino 3, Maglupay 2, Duremdes 0, Roluna 0, Corpuz 0
Quarterscores: 21-20, 38-36, 59-55, 84-77.
