Knights rout Stags, advance to semis
Games tomorrow 10 a.m. – LPU vs CSB (jrs) 12 noon – AU vs SBU (jrs) 2 p.m. – LPU vs CSB (srs) 4 p.m. – AU vs SBU (srs)
Out of the Final Four the last three years, Letran produced its best game in the season to secure its spot in the NCAA men’s basketball post-season play.
Behind a season-high 12 triples and a season-best 27 assists, the Knights relied on a big first half cushion to hold off the San Sebastian Stags’ third quarter fightback then reasserted their might in the last 10 minutes to fashion out a 79-61 victory at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.
Bonbon Batiller and Koy Galvelo took over when main men John Quinto and JP Calvo struggled, combining for 29 points as the Knights nailed their 12th win against four losses to advance to their first semifinals since making it that far and eventually winning the crown in 2015.
“We’re very thankful we made it to the Final Four,” said Letran coach Jeff Napa.
Batiller and Calvelo keyed the Knights’ strong first half that saw them post a 42-25 bulge but the Stags came out of the break in fierce form, rallying to within, 52-59, heading to the fourth.
Perpetual Help, on the other hand, assured itself of at least a playoff for the last semis seat as it trounced Emilio Aguinaldo College, 81-67, in the other game.
Kim Aurin came away with a career-best 26 points to power the Altas to the key victory that hiked their card to 11-5, three games ahead of fifth-running St. Benilde Blazers (8-7).
The Generals fell to 4-13.