Letran surprised College of St. Benilde with its late surge and romped to an 80-71 win Saturday in the Filoil EcoOil 17th ECJ Preseason Cup at San Juan’s Filoil EcoOil Centre.
Jimboy Estrada tallied 19 points and six rebounds and hit the midrange jumper that capped off the Knights’ 12-2 blast down the stretch to finally notch a mark on the win column after three tries.
“Kailangan yung maturity namin during the game, ma-handle namin especially down the wire. Yun yung importante sa ngayong laro and thankful (kami) na-close namin yung game on a winning note,” said interim coach Allen Ricardo, who led the Squires to back-to-back titles before moving up to the seniors division.
Pao Javillonar also contributed 12 points and five rebounds, while Kobe Monje and Deo Cuajo registered 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Earlier, Mac Guadaña’s hot shooting lifted Lyceum to a 94-89 breakthrough triumph over San Sebastian College-Recoletos.
The do-it-all guard finished with 29 points on 60 percent shooting from distance, along with eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Rafael Are poured in 19 points on top of two rebounds and two steals in the Golden Stags’ first outing, while Ralph Gabat and Tristan Felebrico added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Meanwhile, Far Eastern University ignited a 16-3 run down the stretch to eke out an 80-76 come-from-behind victory over University of the East.
The rookie duo of Veejay Pre and Janrey Pasaol stepped up for the now 2-0 Tamaraws after tallying 22 and 13 markers, respectively.
In another NCAA matchup, the University of Perpetual Help downed undermanned Mapua, 76-67, through Mark Gojo Cruz’s 15-point performance.
FIRST GAME
SAN SEBASTIAN 89 – Are 19, Gabat 12, Felebrico 10, Una 9, Escobido 9, Aguilar 8, Ronquillo 7, Pascual 6, Velasco 6, Lintol 3, Maliwat 0, Gabat 0, Ricio 0, Suico 0.
LPU 94 – Guadaña 29, Montaño 16, Barba 13, Peñafiel 12, Villegas 8, Lopez 6, Aviles 6, Versoza 4, Paulo 0, Lopez 0, Pallingayan 0, Caduyac 0, Moralejo 0, Garro 0, Dailog 0.
Quarters: 22-12, 43-35, 71-54, 94-89.
SECOND GAME
FEU 80 – Pre 22, Pasaol 13, Bautista 12, Konateh 11, Felipe 11, Bagunu 9, Gordon 2, Daa 0, Taboctaboc 0, Ona 0, Maglasang 0.
UE 76 – Lingolingo 18, Momowei 13, Maga 12, Mulingtapang 8, Abate 6, Galang 5, Go 5, Spandonis 5, Cruz-Dumont 4, Robles 0, Mahilim 0.
Quarters: 12-21, 38-48, 56-59, 80-76.
THIRD GAME
PERPETUAL 76 – Gojo Cruz 15, Boral 12, Orgo 10, Pagaran 9, Montemayor 8, Abis 7, Pizarro 7, Nuñez 4, Sevilla 2, A. Manuel 2, Ayon 0, B. Manuel 0, Movida 0, Gelsano 0, Cauguiran 0.
MAPUA 67 – Jabonete 19, Hubilla 13, Cuenco 10, Bancale 9, Igliane 7, Mangubat 6, Abdulla 2, Concepcion 1, Fermin 0, Agemenyi 0.
Quarters: 19-26, 38-38, 57-49, 76-67
FOURTH GAME
LETRAN 80 – Estrada 19, Javillonar 12, Monje 12, Cuajao 11, Dimaano 6, Go 5, Bojorcelo 5, Baliling 5, Garupil 0, Montecillo 0, Pradela 0, Tangkay 0, Ariar 0.
BENILDE 71- Liwag 14, Cajucom 13, Cometa 10, Ancheta 8, Eusebio 6, Sangco 4, Ynot 4, Torres 3, Morales 3, Victoria 2, Ondoa 2, Galas 2, Turco 0, Serrano 0, Oli 0.
Quarters: 19-19, 40-49, 60-62, 80-71.
