Despite missing their senior guard Kurt Reyson, Colegio de San Juan de Letran put an end to its seven game skid.
Defending champions Knights took their first win in the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament in dominant fashion, running through San Sebastian College Recoletos, 86-71, on Wednesday at the Filoil Ecooil Centre.
The Knights go up to 1-7 for the season but still have a ways to go before they can climb the standings from the 10th spot.
Still, the win was a relief for first-year head coach Rensy Bajar, who had been under fire for the last month.
“Siyempre napakasaya kasi kahit papaano nalampasan namin yung 0-7. Kahit papaano naka-isa kami, despite medyo kulang-kulang yung team,” shared Bajar.
Besides Reyson, also out for Letran was bruiser Pao Javillonar.
“Maraming may sakit doon sa players namin, give credit to my players kasi sila yung talagang naglaro, sila yung gustong manalo talaga. Kami just to support them and guide them for this game,” the UCBL champion coach continued.
Deo Cuajao was the main beneficiary of the Knights’ offensive shift as he contributed 14 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
Neil Guarino also provided valuable minutes off the bench, chipping in with 13 points in just 11 minutes and 34 seconds of play. Kobe Monje added 13 points for the Knights, while Kevin Santos neared a double-double with seven points and 13 rebounds.
Letran gained control of the match in the second quarter, outscoring the Stags 24-8.
The Knights went on a 20-5 run, kicked off by a three-pointer from Nicko Fajardo with 8:48 on the clock, and ended with a mid-range jumper from Rafael Go with 1:42 left in the quarter to go up 40-21.
The match got feisty in the fourth quarter as a double-technical foul assessed to Rico Bojorcelo and Mark De Leon with 4:04 left in the game resulted in De Leon’s ejection. At that point, the match was far out of reach as Letran coasted to its breakthrough win.
They rediscovered their winning form just in time for their Season 98 finals rematch against College of Saint Benilde this coming Sunday, 2:40 p.m.
Rafael Are led all scorers with 20 points on 45.5-percent shooting for the Stags. Rommel Calahat had a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and also added 5 steals. Raymart Escobido was the only other scorer in double digits for San Sebastian with 12 points
Baste fell down to a 3-5 record in the standings. It only has one day to recover from the loss as it is set to battle San Beda University on Friday, 4:00 p.m. to end its first round bid.
The Scores:
Letran 86 – Cuajao 14, Guarino 13, Monje 13, Fajardo 9, Ariar 8, Bojorcelo 8, Santos 7, Go 5, Nunag 4, Bautista 3, Javillonar 2, Garupil 0
San Sebastian 71 – Are 20, Calahat 14, Escobido 12, Re. Gabat 8, Una 7, Sumoda 6, Shanoda 2, Desoyo 2, De Leon 0, Ra. Gabat 0, Felebrico 0, Singson 0
Quarterscores: 20-16; 44-24; 67-50; 86-71
