Knights conquer Chiefs
EAC Generals pull rug from under JRU Heavy Bombers
THE Letran Knights returned to winning yesterday while boosting its spot in the top four of Season 93 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) by beating the Arellano Chiefs, 84-73, in league action at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Dropped their three previous games, the Knights stopped the bleeding with a convincing victory over the Chiefs which saw them holding sway for much of the contest.
Earlier in the day, the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals used a late-game charge to upend the Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers, 88-84, to improve to 6-6, good for fourth spot.
Letran built a 26- 20 lead at the end of the first quarter before adding on it in the second quarter behind veteran Bong Quinto and Rey Nambatac to take a 45- 36 advantage halfway into the game.
The Knights showed no let-up as the third frame began, outscoring the Chiefs, 13-6, in the first five minutes to build their biggest lead of 16 points, 58-42.
Arellano tried to narrow the gap but Letran would maintain some safe distance, 68-59 at the end of the period.
The fourth quarter started slow for both protagonists, fighting to a 72-62 affair with five minutes remaining.
The Chiefs, however, would go on an 11-7 run to cut their deficit to just six points, 79-73, with 40 seconds to go.
A three-pointer from Letran guard JP Calvo with 17 ticks on the clock would prove to be the end for Arellano in the game as the Knights sealed the win.
Quinto had 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Knights with Calvo also adding 20 markers. Nambatac had 14.
Kent Salado, meanwhile, led the Chiefs with 23 markers. With the loss, Arellano fell to 4-8.
GENERALS WIN
In the first game, meanwhile, the Ermita-based Generals outsteadied the Bombers to claim a big win to give their NCAA Season 93 campaign further wind.
EAC struggled in the middle quarters but mustered enough poise and confidence in the end to get the better of JRU.
The Generals seized control of the contest in the first period, taking a slim 24-22 advantage.
In the second quarter, however, the Bombers would make their move to create some distance, establishing a 10-point cushion, 37-27, with less than three minutes remaining.
EAC though would make a mini-run thereafter to cut JRU’s lead to a manageable level, 39-36, by the halftime break.
The Bombers continued to dominate to start the third quarter, stretching their lead to as much as 12 points more than halfway into the frame.
But like in the second quarter, the Generals would make a late run behind Sidney Onwubere, to stay within reach of the Bombers, 61-57.
The teams went back- andforth to begin the final quarter.
JRU had a five-point separation, 74- 69, at the five- minute mark of the game before EAC went on a 6-3 run in the next two minutes to cut it to two points, 77-75.
Guard Jed Mendoza gave JRU some breathing space with a three- point play only to be answered by EAC with six straight points to overtake the Bombers, 81- 80, with 1: 24 remaining.
Onwubere then drained a three-pointer with 57.4 seconds to go to add to their lead, 84-80.
The Generals extended it to five, 86-81, and just staved off the attempts of JRU to turn things around the rest of the way to claim the victory.
Onwubere led EAC with 28 points, 16 coming in the second half, to go along with eight rebounds.
Jerome Garcia had 16 while Philip Tampoc and Jeric Diego each had 11 markers.
For JRU, which dropped to 7- 5, still at third place, it was Jed Mendoza who top- scored with 22 points with TeyTey Teodoro adding 18 and Ervin Grospe 15 points.