Desperately needing a win to snap their two-game losing skid, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights relied on the steady hands of Rey Nambatac to fend off the Arellano University Chiefs, 82-75, Tuesday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
The Knights and the Chiefs now sport twin records of 2-3 with the latter dropping their second straight loss.
“Finally nakuha rin namin yung panalo coming off a two-game losing streak, so magandang buwelo para sa amin coming sa next game kasi isang araw lang kami magpapahinga,” said second-year Letran head coach Jeff Napa, as Letran had absorbed two tough losses to JRU and San Beda prior to this game.
Letran’s team captain finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and two steals, scoring 10 of the last 12 points of the Knights.
A three-point play by the Cagayan de Oro-native gave Letran a 72-65 lead with 3:50 left. And with Arellano cutting the lead to five after a basket by Lervin Flores with 56.5 ticks left, Nambatac forced Kent Salado to throw up a tough shot afterwards and followed it up with free throws to seal the win.
But it was not just Nambatac who notched a double-double, as big man Jeo Ambohot added 15 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks while transferee Jeremiah Taladua finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Letran out-rebounded Arellano as a whole as well, 59-40.
“Andun na yung scouting namin pero it’s more on collective effort ng team eh. Despite na nandiyan si Rey, willing to step up naman ‘yung iba,” added Napa. “Yun naman ang kulang sa amin last game, yung susuporta sa apat. Right now at least may nag-step up, naging maganda ang resulta para sa amin,” he furthered as Ambohot and Taladua combined for just three points against San Beda.
Flores played his best game of the season so far, finishing with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. Kent Salado, who was averaging 18.8 points prior to this game, was limited to just 15 markers.
Letran will host the Saint Benilde Blazers on Thursday, August 3. Arellano, on the other hand, hope to snap out of their skid against the EAC Generals on Tuesday, August 8, at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
CSJL 82 – Ambohot 15, Nambatac 15, Taladua 13, Balanza 12, Calvo 9, Quinto 8, Balagasay 4, Pascual 4, Mandreza 2, Bernabe 0, Caralipio 0, Gedaria 0.
AU 75 – Flores 17, Salado 15, Canete 12, Enriquez 10, Alcoriza 8, Concepcion 5, Dela Cruz 3, Nicholls 3, Taywan 2, Meca 0, Ongolo-Ongolo 0, Abanes 0, Padilla 0, Rivera 0.
Quarterscores: 18-25, 46-38, 57-58, 82-75.
