Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 26) – Defending champions Colegio De San Juan De Letran Knights scored a huge come-from-behind win against host school College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 67-63, in the opening game of NCAA Season 97 on Saturday at the La Salle Greenhills Gym.
Rhenz Abando, a transferee from the University of Santo Tomas, delivered big numbers in his Letran debut with 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and four blocks.
After trailing for most of the game in the first three quarters, the Knights took the opportunity in the fourth canto to kick off their scoring comeback.
Abando and Season 95 Finals Most Valuable Player awardee Fran Yu headed the offensive attack for Letran, which also utilized their tight defensive sets to limit CSB to only eight points in the last quarter.
The Bonnie Tan-mentored Knights finally clinched the lead, 62-61, with over two minutes remaining in the contest courtesy of a put-back by Marc Javillonar off an Abando missed lay-up.
Letran big man Mark Sangalang followed up with an inside shot with over a minute left in the game, after CSB had failed scoring chances from Alfonso Benson’s missed two charities and transferee Will Gozum’s attempt in the paint.
Yu, who finished with 12 points and eight boards, sealed the game-winning free throw that put the reigning titlists ahead by four points in the last seconds.
“I’m expecting that we will have a good game. Dikit ang laro, pero ang layo ng lamang samin kanina, double digits so medyo hirap talaga. Well-coached yung Saint Benilde,” Tan said after the game.
[Translation: It was a close game but we were down big, double digits, so it was really a difficult win for us. Saint Benilde is well-coached].
Benson topscored for CSB with 16 points while Carlo Lim chipped in 10 markers. Gozum, a transferee from the University of the Philippines, only produced eight points in the game.
The Scores:
LETRAN 67 – Abando 19, Yu 12, Caralipio 8, Sangalang 7, Javillonar 7, Paraiso 4, Fajarito 4, Mina 3, Olivario 2, Ambohot 1, Reyson 0, Guarino 0.
ST. BENILDE 63 – Benzon 16, Lim 10, Gozum 8, Nayve 6, Cullar 6, Corteza 4, Davis 2, Lepalam 2, Marcos 2, Sangco 0, Flores 0, Mosqueda 0.
Quarterscores: 10-16, 30-33, 49-55, 67-63
