By: Bjorn Del Deade
Colegio de San Juan de Letran secured its first victory of the NCAA Season 100 seniors basketball tournament with a 70-62 win over the winless Jose Rizal University on Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The game was tied at 56-all in the fourth quarter when Jimboy Estrada and Deo Cuajao led a crucial late surge for the Knights. They outscored the Heavy Bombers 10-6 with less than six minutes remaining, giving Letran a 66-58 lead.
JRU’s Shawn Argente attempted to close the gap with a corner three-pointer at the 1:49 mark, reducing the deficit to 61-66. However, Estrada delivered a decisive midrange jumper with 47 seconds left, extending Letran’s lead to 68-61. He then sealed the victory by making two free throws in the dying seconds.
With this win, the Knights improved to a 1-1 win-loss record, while JRU remains at the bottom of the standings with a 0-2 record.
Estrada led Letran with 22 points on an efficient 9-of-15 shooting and added nine rebounds. James Miller, who provided a crucial spark late in the third quarter, contributed 16 points and five assists.
The Knights will aim for their second win against Arellano University on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at the same venue.
The game was closely contested in the first half, with Letran holding a narrow 32-31 lead at the break. The first half featured four deadlocks and eight lead changes.
After the break, the Heavy Bombers initially took control with a 12-5 run, driven by six points from Argente, to lead 48-42. Despite this, the Knights responded with a 12-0 run, which gave them momentum heading into the final quarter.
JRU tried to regain control early in the payoff period with an 8-2 run, but Estrada’s late-game performance proved too much for them to overcome.
Argente finished the game with 18 points, including four triples, while Joshua Guiab added 12 points for JRU.
The Heavy Bombers will look to secure their first win against the winless LPU Pirates on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 12 p.m.
The Scores:
Letran 70 – Estrada 22, Miller 16, Go 8, Cuajao 6, Dimaano 5, Pradella 4, Baliling 3, Jumao-as 3, Santos 2, Monje 1, Montecillo 0, Nunag 0, Delfino 0
JRU 62 – Argente 18, Guiab 12, Rayundo 9, Pangilinan 8, Ramos 6, Panapanaan 5, Barrera 4, Samontanes 0, Benitez 0, De Leon 0, De Jesus 0, Medina 0
Quarterscores: 16-15, 32-31, 54-48, 70-62.
