NCAA: Charging Knights take on middling Chiefs
WINNERS of their last three games, the Letran Knights seek to continue their impressive run early in Season 94 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) when they take on the Arellano Chiefs in the last game of the scheduled triple-header in seniors play today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Currently sporting a 3-1 card, good for solo third place, the Muralla-based Knights have turned things around after being tripped in their debut outing in the ongoing season to make their way to the top half of the standings.
The Jeff Napa-coached team now try to extend the streak they have built in their match against Arellano at 4 p.m.
Letran’s latest victory came over the College of St. Benilde Blazers, 64-60, on Aug. 2 at its home gym for the “NCAA on Tour.
Veteran Bong Quinto led his team to the victory with 17 points while getting ample support from the frontcourt trio of Larry Muyang, Chris Fajarito and Jeo Ambohot.
Muyag, Fajarito and Ambohot combined for 22 points and 22 rebounds and were instrumental in holding the Blazers scoreless in the last 3:27 minutes to snare the win.
The win was a familiar refrain for the Knights, that has them making full use of their size advantage over opponents.
“We just like to take advantage of the strength that we obviously have and we did it again in this game,” said Mr. Napa following their victory.
Prior to beating St. Benilde, Letran defeated Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian College to bounce back from their initial loss to the University of Perpetual Help.
Arellano, for its part, has been having it roller-coaster so far, leading it to have a middling 2-2 record after four matches.
The Chiefs lost to the Mapua Cardinals, 91-83, last time around and are angling to get back on the winning track and stay inside the top echelon with an above .500 mark.
Adrian Alban is leading Jerry Codiñera-coached Arellano in scoring with 13.5 points with Levi Dela Cruz adding 12.8 points and Rence Alcoriza 11.5 points per game, respectively.
Other matches set for today are Mapua (2-3) versus San Sebastian Stags (2-4) at 12 noon and the Lyceum Pirates (6-0) against St. Benilde (2-3) at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile, after leading the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals to their first victory in NCAA Season 94, JP Maguliano was named player of the week.
The bruiser forward busted loose for 30 points and 17 rebounds to help the Generals to their 79-77 victory over San Sebastian on Aug. 3.
The 19-year-old Maguliano edged out reigning league most valuable player CJ Perez of Lyceum, Letran’s Quinto, and the San Beda pair of Robert Bolick and JV Mocon for the weekly plum given by sport media covering the league and supported by Chooks-To-Go.