By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Wednesday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 noon – Perpetual vs CSB
2:30 p.m. – JRU vs SSCR
Letran held Arellano scoreless in the final three minutes and eked out an 86-79 come-from-behind victory on Tuesday, Sept. 17, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Down by two, 79-77, with 2:57 after back-to-back triples from Chiefs’ Renzo Abiera, the Knights came through with a blazing finish anchored on Paolo Javillonar on their way to clinching their second win in three matches.
The triumph temporarily created a five-way logjam at second with University of Perpetual Help, San Sebastian, Mapua, and San Beda, although the Red Lions are competing against the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals at press time.
Javillonar eruped with a career-high 28 points including a three-point play in the last 2:42 of the game that gave Letran an 80-79 upperhand which the Intramuros-based squad valiantly protected to prevail.
He also grabbed eight rebounds, swatted away two blocked shots and dished off two assists.
Nat Montecillo and Jimboy Estrada sealed the deal for Letran by burying back-to-back baskets, 84-79, before putting on the defensive stops to the Chiefs.
Estrada chipped in 14 points and eight boards, while James Miller had 11 points and five rebounds.
Arellano led by as many as 13, 59-46, but struggled in the end, allowing the Knights to snatch the win.
Five players actually scored for the Chiefs but these hardly mattered.
It also didn’t help that Arellano struggled behind the charity stripe, sinking only 11 out of 21 attempts.
The scores:
LETRAN 86 – Javillonar 28, Estrada 14, J. Miller 11, Cuajao 6, Go 6, Monje 5, Dimaano 5, Jumao-as 4, Nunag 4, Montecillo 2, Delfino 1, Pradella 0, Santos 0, Tagotongan 0.
ARELLANO 79 – Vinoya 16, Hernal 11, Capulong 11, Abiera 10, Ongotan 10, Geronimo 7, Valencia 6, Camay 4, Borromeo 2, Libang 2, De Leon 0, Acop 0, W. Miller 0, Espiritu 0.
Quarters: 28-26; 46-54; 63-69; 86-79.
