By: Miguel Marco
Colegio de San Juan de Letran stayed unbeaten, while Malayan High School dealt defending champion University of Perpetual Help System DALTA its first loss in the NCAA Season 101 Juniors Basketball Tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Squires outlasted fellow Strong Group-backed La Salle Greenhills, 70-69, in Group B.
Meanwhile in Group A, Malayan pulled away late to beat Perpetual, 65-57, after breaking a 55-all deadlock with an 8-0 run in the final three minutes.
Ethan Agea delivered 15 points to keep Letran spotless at 3-0, while the Greenies absorbed their first setback to fall to 2-1.
Trailing 38-29 at halftime, the Squires roared back with a 22-13 third-quarter blitz capped by a Mico Pascual basket to tie things up at 51-all.
The game remained tight, with Letran clinging to a 57-56 advantage heading into the fourth.
In the closing minutes, Pat Pasinos pushed La Salle ahead by a point after splitting his free throws, but Pascual answered with a go-ahead basket before making back-to-back defensive stops — first blocking Jaime Teodoro’s shot, then denying Pasinos’ jumper — to preserve the win.
Pascual finished with 11 points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while Andwele Cabañero added 11 for Letran.
Kean Dungca led the Red Robins with 13 points, four rebounds, a steal, and a block, while Froilan Reyes added 11 markers. Chris Parame also made his presence felt with 12 rebounds and seven points as Malayan improved to 2-1.
The Junior Altas, who dropped to 2-1, were led by Hanz Llupar’s 20 points and Ezekiel Zamoras’ 15.
Josef Calo-oy carried La Salle with 22 points and seven rebounds, while Pasinos tallied 14.
