Rhenz Abando re-set his NCAA career-high, leading Colegio de San Juan de Letran to a dominant 68-57 rout of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA to stay undefeated in three games in the Season 97 seniors basketball tournament, Sunday at La Salle Greenhills’ St. Benilde Gym in Mandaluyong City.
The former UST Growling Tiger tallied 24 points to go along with five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block.
“If we’re basing sa stats, siguro kahit papaano na-embrace na siya ng team na kaya niyang umi-score,” said Knights head coach Bonnie Tan on his prized recruit.
And it was Abando who helped the Knights break away from the Altas.
The Knights extended a five-point lead, 32-27, 7:15 left in the third quarter, to their biggest lead of the game at 21, 52-31, in a span of six minutes. In the same span, they only forced the Altas to earn those four points, all from the free-throw line.
Allen Mina then closed out the period with a bucket in traffic for the biggest advantage with one quarter left to play, 54-36.
Mark Sangalang added 10 markers, three boards, two assists, and two blocks while Mina also finished with 10 points to go along with two rebounds. Both Christian Fajarito and Jeo Ambohot also grabbed 11 rebounds each.
Perpetual finally got Kim Aurin going in the final period with eight points in that 21-6 closing run, but it was not enough to deny the reigning NCAA champions the win.
The winger ended with 12 points in the contest on a 31.3 percent shooting clip.
Meanwhile, Jielo Razon ended up scoreless in the game, despite going for a career-high 21 points in their previous game against San Sebastian. Jeff Egan ended up as the leading scorer of the Altas with 15 points built on three treys while Mark Omega tallied nine rebounds and eight points.
“Long way to go. Matagal pa yung tournament at iisa-isahin pa natin,” Tan admitted despite the win-loss record.
“May game pa against Mapua. Nag-relax yung third group namin [sa dulo] so siguro lesson yan para pagdating ng practice hindi maging overconfident sa 3-0 natin at ma-improve natin yung mga corrections ng third group,” he said as they face Mapua (2-0) on Friday at 12:00 NN.
The Altas slipped to 1-2 in a tie for the sixth to the eighth spot.
On the other hand, Perpetual will go for a bounce-back win against Arellano University (1-2) on April 6 at 3 p.m.
The Scores:
CSJL 68 – Abando 24, Sangalang 10, Mina 10, Caralipio 6, Fajarito 5, Ambohot 4, Paraiso 4, Yu 2, Olivario 2, Reyson 1, Javillonar 0, Guarino 0, Tolentino 0.
UPHSD 57 – Egan 15, Aurin 12, Omega 8, Nunez 6, Barcuma 5, Abis 4, Ferreras 4, Sevilla 2, Boral 1, Razon 0, Martel 0, Cuevas 0, Pagaran 0.
Quarterscores: 13-10, 28-23, 54-36, 68-57.
