Letran out to push ascent vs Perpetual Help
WINNERS of their last two games, the Letran Knights are out to keep their fine form of late going when they take on the Perpetual Help Altas today in the end-of-the week schedule of Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Muralla- based Letran ( 33) will collide with Perpetual Help (2- 3) at 4 p. m. at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Preceding it is the clash between defending champions San Beda Red Lions ( 5- 1) and struggling Mapua Cardinals ( 1- 5) at 12 noon and Season 93 hosts San Sebastian Stags ( 2- 3) against the improving College of St. Benilde Blazers ( 2- 4) at 2 p. m.
The latest of Letran’s victories came over St. Benilde, 92-78, in an “NCAA on Tour” game at the former’s home gym on Aug. 3.
Graduating player Rey Nambatac was the top man for the Knights in their home win as he scored a season- high 31 points to go along with 11 rebounds and five assists.
Bong Quinto, Daryl Pascual and Jeo Ambohot also scored in double figures with 14, 12, and 11, respectively, for Letran.
From a 66-all deadlock at the end of the third period, Nambatac spearheaded a fourth- quarter onslaught while shutting St. Benilde down to power Letran to the win.
The Blazers set the tone early as they led, 21-14, at the end of the first quarter and 29-20 early in the second.
Nambatac then took charge as he willed his team back as the Knights grabbed a 43-38 lead at the half.
“Rey Nambatac is Rey Nambatac. We just need the other players to complement his game,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa, whose wards broke a string of losses of the home teams in the NCAA on Tour.
EYEING A WIN
Perpetual Help, for its part, is eyeing a win over Letran that would put it back in the victory column after losing to the league-leading Lyceum Pirates, 76-58, in its last outing.
Nigerian big man Prince Eze had a monster double-double of 21 points and 19 rebounds but that proved to be not enough to lead his team against a balanced attack from the Pirates.
A win today would push the Las Piñas-based Altas back in the top four of the standings.
In the first game, meanwhile, two contrasting teams jostle as San Beda, winner of its last four games, takes on Mapua, which has lost four straight.
The second game, on the other hand, will have San Sebastian and St. Benilde, teams coming off victories in their previous games, battling to notch win number three in the current season of the country’s longest- standing collegiate league.