Knights topple Blazers

Letran walloped College of St. Benilde (CSB), 88-64, to end its first round campaign of Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament on a high note yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City. Jerrick Balanza sizzled with 26 points for the Knights, who started the game with a 12-1 run and never looked back to force a three-way tie for second spot at 6-3.

Bonbon Batiller added 10 points and two assists while Tommy Olivario and Larry Muyang combined for 14 markers as to help Letran scored a wire-to-wire victory.

“We now move up to the top four, that’s the importance of this win. And I think we were able the kind of game I’ve been looking for from my players,” Knights head coach Bonnie Tan said.

The Blazers tried to close the gap at 35-46 but Letran responded with another 16-5 run to pull away at 62-40, midway in the third canto.

Knights’ lead reached as high as 30 points, 82-52, after back-to-back treys from Balanza and Jeo Ambohot early in the fourth period and CSB never recovered from that assault.

Kendrix Belgica led the Blazers with 12 points and seven rebounds while Yankie Haruna chipped in eight markers. Justin Gutang, the hero in CSB’s win against Jose Rizal University, was held down to just three points on an ugly 1-of-6 shooting from the field.