Wangs Basketball @27 Strikers – Letran knocked winless AMA Online out of playoff contention by carving out a gritty 71-57 win in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Pao Javillonar posted 15 points and two rebounds in only 16 minutes of action as the Knights limited the Titans to only seven points in the fourth quarter to pull away for good and claim their second straight win.
Letran, the reigning three-time NCAA champion, thus climbed to 2-2 and gained a piece of the fourth spot with Perpetual for a steady playoff track entering the homestretch of the seven-team tourney.
“Slow start kami and no excuses for us. Credit to the players for stepping up sa second half. Nag-rely lang kami sa defense na gusto namin maging identity moving forward,” said coach Rensy Bajar.
Letran, riding on a debut win for Bajar against PSP last week, started hot at 15-7 only to cool down and succumb to AMA’s 30-18 surge for a sudden 33-37 deficit at the break.
The Titans would continue their torrid shooting to start the second half as Reed Baclig’s jumper punctuated an 8-2 rally for their biggest lead at 42-35.
But the Knights flaunted their championship pedigree from there on, retaliating with a 13-2 blast to retake control at 48-44 entering the payoff period where they put on the finishing touches.
Javillonar drew support from Kevin Santos, who hauled down a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double. Kobe Monje and Neil Guariano chipped in eight each as skipper Kurt Reyson orchestrated the show with five points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
Earl Ceniza and Baclig had 20 and 14 points, respectively, for the Titans, who stayed listless at 0-5 for an early boot with still a game to play in the single-round robin elimination play.
AMA dropped all of its games by double digits.
The Scores:
Wangs Strikers-Letran 71 – Javillonar 15, Santos 14, Guariano 8, Monje 8, Cuajao 7, Ariar 6, Reyson 5, Tolentino 4, Go 4, Laquindanum 0, Brillantes 0, Bojorcelo 0, Alarcon 0, Morales 0.
AMA 57 – Ceniza 20, Baclig 14, Alina 6, Panlilio 5, Camay 4, Del Rosario 3, Geronga 3, Peñano 2, Yamabao 0, Temporosa 0, K. Cruz 0, Ibo 0, A. Kruz 0, Cantoma 0, Fernandez 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 33-37, 54-50, 71-57.
