Oro’s Nambatac steps up
As Letran sends Arellano to 2nd straight loss
MANILA--Rey Nambatac stepped up in the final quarter to help Colegio de San Juan de Letran fend off Arellano University, 82-75, for only their second victory of the NCAA Season 93 men's basketball tournament on Tuesday at the FilOil Flying V Centre.
Nambatac was responsible for 10 of Letran's final 12 points, scoring eight of them from the free throw line. He also gave the Knights the lead for good with a lay-up off a steal with 8:26 left in the final quarter, plus a bonus free throw to make it 62-60.
The Knights never trailed again, but they needed Nambatac and JP Calvo to make clutch free throws in the end game to stave off Kent Salado and the Chiefs.
Jeo Ambohot was superb for Letran with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and five blocks, while Nambatac added seven rebounds and five assists to his stat line. Jeremiah Taladua tallied 13 points and 11 boards in his finest game so far for the Knights.
Letran snapped a twogame slide to improve to 2-3, while also handing the Chiefs their second loss in a row.
“Finally, nakuha rin namin ‘yung panalo coming off a two-game losing streak,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa. “Magandang buwelo para sa amin ito, coming sa next game kasi isang araw lang kami magpapahinga.”
In a back-and-forth contest that featured 11 lead changes, the Chiefs overhauled an eight-point halftime deficit to surge to a 58-57 advantage at the end of the third quarter. Michael Cañete led Arellano in the third, using a bevy of moves to score in the post.
A transition bucket by Lervin Flores made it 6057 for Arellano early in the fourth quarter, but a jumper by Calvo trimmed the lead to one point with 8:42 left. Nambatac then poached the ball off Arellano in their next possession, powered through contact to complete the lay-up, and was fouled.
His three-point play gave the Knights a 62-60 advantage, which they extended to seven points, 72-65, off another Nambatac and-1 with 3:50 to go.