The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights continue to find ways to win, outlasting the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags in overtime, 79-75, Tuesday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
With the win, Letran strengthened their grip at third place with a 5-3 slate, while San Sebastian dropped to 3-4.
“All credit ulit sa mga boys. Yung character kasi, doon lumabas,” said second-year Letran head coach Jeff Napa.
The Knights were able to gut it out despite things getting chippy between both teams.
With the game knotted at 75-all, Rey Nambatac was able to strip the ball away from Michael Calisaan, leading to two free throws for JP Calvo with 1:20 left. Later on, after a San Sebastian timeout with 32.6 ticks left on the clock, a designed alley-oop play off an inbound pass by RK Ilagan to Jayson David was foiled by Calvo, followed by the game-sealing free throws courtesy of Jerrick Balanza.
Team captain Rey Nambatac powered the Knights with 23 points and 14 rebounds, going 6-for-15 from the field. Calvo added 12 points, five rebounds, and eight assists.
“Siyempre yung leadership ng mga beterano at yung attitude ng mga bata na hindi basta-basta magpapatalo, whatever happens, whatever the outcome ibibigay pa rin nila ang best nila,” admitted Napa.
Renzo Navarro was the one who gave San Sebastian a chance to snap Letran’s streak. Down by as much as eight points, 55-63, with 7:18 left in regulation, the transferee from La Salle scored eight of the last 16 Golden Stags points capped by a booming triple to cut the lead to just three, 68-71. A Navarro find to Michael Calisaan for a triple ultimately sent the game into overtime with 1:14 remaining.
Jeo Ambohot added 11 points and eight rebounds. However, the former Arellano Chief was stretchered out of the game after a hard fall against San Sebastian bruiser JM Calma at the 5:48 mark of the third frame. Initial diagnosis was that he dislocated his right wrist.
“When Jeo was out, everybody stood up and nag-step up para punan ang pagkawala niya,” expressed Napa.
Calisaan paced San Sebastian with 18 points on 20 attempts and 13 boards. Navarro added 14 markers, while JM Calma and Allyn Bulanadi finished with double-doubles as well.
Letran will have a tough mountain to climb on Friday, August 18, when they take on the Lyceum Pirates at 2:00pm. San Sebastian will take on the EAC Generals on the same day at 12:00nn.
The Scores:
CSJL 79 – Nambatac 23, Calvo 12, Ambohot 11, Balanza 10, Quinto 5, Mandreza 5, Gedaria 5, Caralipio 3, Pascual 3, Taladua 2, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Vacaro 0, De Villa 0
SSC-R 75 – Calisaan 18, Navarro 14, Calma 11, David 10, Bulanadi 10, Ilagan 8, Gayosa 3, Mercado 1, Baetiong 0, Capobres 0, Costelo 0, Are 0
Quarterscores: 17-13, 33-27, 53-52, 71-71, 79-75.
