Defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran took huge advantage of their size and experience to clobber Arellano University, 96-65, for their second straight win of the NCAA Season 97 seniors basketball tournament on Wednesday at the La Salle Greenhills St. Benilde Gym in Mandaluyong City.
With Justin Arana out with a right-knee injury and the other Chiefs bigs having trouble getting their numbers, Jeo Ambohot flexed his muscles for the Knights and steered them to the solo lead in the bubble tournament.
After Arellano captain Gelo Sablan cut the deficit to 13, 28-41, the senior big man turned it around with a personal 5-0 to put the game away as early as the 9:02 mark of the third.
Christian Fajarito found Ambohot underneath for the under-goal stab before he completed a three-point play. He then attacked the basket in the following play to extend the lead to 18, 46-28.
Arellano kept themselves into the game as John Carandang and Stefan Steinl reduced the gap to 11 with 1:24 left in the third period.
Nonetheless, Tommy Olivario doused the Chief’s hopes with a buzzer-beating three for the dagger even there was a quarter left to play.
Letran (2-0) will try to stay undefeated as they battle against the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (1-0) on Sunday at 12 nn. Meanwhile, Arellano (1-1) will attempt to get back to the win column at the expense of season hosts De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (1-1) on the day before also at 12 nn.
The Scores:
CSJL (96) — Ambohot 20, Olivario 15, Abando 11, Sangalang 10, Caralipio 9. Reyson 6, Javillonar 6. Mina 5, Paraiso 4, Lantaya 4, Fajarito 3, Guarino 3, Yu 0, Tolentino 0.
AU (67) — Doromal 11, Carandang 11, Sablan 9, Caballero 7, Cruz 7, Valencia 6, Oliva 4, Steinl 4, Abastillas 3, Sta. Ana 3, Talampas 2, Uri 0, Dela Cruz 0, Concepcion 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 41-26, 66-51, 96-67.
