By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Friday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 noon – Lyceum vs CSB
2:30 p.m. – EAC vs JRU
Arellano eliminated Letran from the Final Four race with a nail-biting 67-65 victory on Wednesday, Nov. 13, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Though already out of semifinal contention, the Chiefs still displayed grit especially in the crucial moments to extend their winning streak to three games and improve their win-loss tally to 7-10 with one game left in the season.
Letran, for its part, ended the season with a heartbreak, absorbing its 10th defeat against eight wins for solo sixth, thus kissing its semis bid goodbye.
Lorenz Capulong paced Arellano with a double-double performance of 13 points and 12 rebounds including a split charity in the last 4.7 seconds that gave them a one-ball possession lead.
Nat Montecillo attempted a long buzzer-beating triple with hopes of grabbing the victory, but it bounced off the rim as Letran missed the semis for the second straight season.
“Morale boost pa rin sa amin. Same goal pa rin naman kami pero different result. Ang importante, kung ano yung makuha naming mga lesson dito sa Season 100 na madadala namin next season,” said Arellano coach Chico Manabat, whose wards avenged their 86-79 loss to the Knights in the first round last Sept. 17.
Letran appeared in control of the game after leading by as many as 14, 42-28, before Arellano grabbed the upperhand 63-56, in the last 5:51 of the game.
Montecillo, Kobe Monje and Paolo Javillonar conspired in a 9-1 blast to give the Knights a 65-64 edge, but the Chiefs were a tough nut to crack as Basti Valencia made a crucial putback to regain the lead, 66-65.
Monje finished with a career-high 24 points, while Montecillo and Javillonar had 11 points each in a losing cause for Letran.
Meantime, College of St. Benilde showed great resolve in finishing as the elimination round top seed after it downed San Beda, 70-62.
Jhomel Ancheta bounced back from a lethargic effort the last time by posting a game-high 18 points while Allen Liwag had another day at the office with 14 points and 14 rebounds as the Blazers kept their firmer grip of No. 1 with a 14-3 mark.
CSB could accomplish it if it could hurdle Lyceum of the Philippines University tomorrow since it has a better tiebreak against chief rival Mapua in the eventuality of a tie.
For the Lions, they remained at No. 3 despite skidding to 10-7.
The scores:
First Game
ARELLANO 67 – Capulong 13, Vinoya 9, Valencia 8, Camay 7, Hernal 7, Geronimo 6, De Leon 4, Borromeo 4, Libang 4, Abiera 3, Miller 2, Ongotan 0, Flores 0.
LETRAN 65 – Monje 24, Montecillo 11, Javillonar 11, Estrada 10, Miller 5, Santos 2, Nunag 2, Cuajao 0, Jumao-As 0, Dimaano 0.
Quarters: 17-16; 28-40; 51-54; 67-65.
Second Game
CSB 70 – Ancheta 18, Liwag 14, Sanchez 13, Ynot 10, Torres 5, Cometa 4, Morales 3, Sangco 3, Oli 0, Eusebio 0, Turco 0, Serrano 0, Ondoa 0.
San Beda 62 – Lina 17, Payosing 12, Andrada 10, Estacio 7, Sajonia 6, Celzo 4, Songcuya 2, Puno 2, Gonzales 2, Calimag 0, Bonzalida 0, Royo 0, Sollano 0, Tagle 0.
Quarters: 19-20; 34-31; 52-51; 70-62.
