The defending NCAA Seniors Basketball champions, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, were able to survive their horrid free throw shooting and a deep University of the East Red Warriors to snap their two-game losing streak, 105-99, Saturday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Letran big man Jom Sollano was solid all throughout the game in scoring 23 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out four dimes in 31 minutes of gametime. Moreover, he was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and 9-for-12 from the foul stripe. Rey Nambatac added 21 points as six Knights scored in double-figures.
The game did not go the way Letran head coach Jeff Napa wanted it to be as the Knights were down 30-10 midway through the opening quarter. The troika of Paul Varilla, Philip Manalang, and Bonbon Batiller torched to porous Letran defense in the half combining for 25 points.
Behind Sollano and lanky Jerrick Balanza, the Knights bounced back in the second frame. They were able to cut the lead to single digits, 55-47, as the two went perfect from the field (11 for 11) in the half.
“Masyado kaming tentative nung first quarter. Naintindihan ko naman sila kasi proseso naman talaga itong ginagawa namin so may mga bagay kami na ginagawa sa practice na nararamdaman nila na sobrang hirap,” Letran head coach Jeff Napa said. “Despite of this, ginagawa naman nila yung best nila.”
The Knights were able to cut the lead to just two, 71-69, with 2:01 remaining in the third but Batiller scored seven points in the last two minutes of the quarter to put UE up 78-73.
A pullup jumper and a triple by JP Calvo opened the final quarter to knot things up at 78-all. However, Ralph Penuela went on a personal 7-0 rally while a rainbow jumper by big man Mark Acuno extended the UE lead to nine once more.
“Lagi ko ine-emphasize sa kanila na maniwala sila sa system at yung disiplina,” Napa added. “Right now, sa game na ito, pinakita nila na naniniwala sa sila. Despite na grabe yung free throw percentage namin, nanalo pa rin sila.”
Jom Sollano went 7 for 7 from the field (RD Arciaga)
The Red Warriors though were in the penalty early in the fourth. Quinto and Balanza were able to take advantage of this as slowly the lead of UE vanished. With UE holding a 97-93 lead with 2:39 remaining, a basket by Sollano cut the lead to just two. Back-to-back turnovers by Batiller led to a go-ahead triple by Nambatac and free throws by McJour Luib to give Letran its first taste of the lead.
Free throws by RR de Leon cut the lead to just a single point but Nambatac was able to answer right back with a reverse layup with 1:15 remaining. Misses by De Leon and Batiller while free throws by Sollano and Quinto sealed the game.
“Unang talo namin parang okay lang, yung pangalawa namin parang iba na yun,” Luib, who had 11 points, four boards, and three assists said. “Sabi nga namin huwag sana kaming masanay na matalo. Kinausap kami nila coach na maniwala kami sa kanila.”
Alvin Pasaol led UE with 16 points. Batiller added 15 while Varilla scored 11 points.
However, the Knightts went 42-for-61 from the stripe while UE attempted only 24 free throws that proved to be the difference.
The Letran Knights (B, 2-2) look to build on this win as they face the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Thursday, May 26 at 5:00pm. On the other hand, the Red Warriors (2-3) will have the Mapua Cardinals next on their slate on Sunday, May 29 at 1:30pm.
The Scores:
CSJL (105) – Sollano 23, Nambatac 21, Balanza 18, Quinto 16, Calvo 11, Luib 11, Apreku 5, Dela Pena 0, Balagasay 0, Sario 0, Gedaria 0, Bernabe 0.
UE (99) – Pasaol 16, Batiller 15, Varilla 11, Manalang 9, Penuela 8, Abanto 6, De Leon 6, Armenion 6, Acuno 6, Charcos 5, Palma 4, Derige 3, Bartolome 2, Gagae 2, Olayon 0.
Quarterscores: 16-32, 47-55, 73-78, 105-99.
