Letran leaned on a huge 3-point basket by Edson Batiller to eke out an 89-84 win over a hard-luck Mapua squad in the 95th NCAA men’s basketball Tuesday at The Arena in San Juan City.
One of the graduating Knights this season, Batiller beat the shot clock in draining a three that all but took the fight out of Cardinals.
With still 19.1 seconds remaining though, the Cardinals tried for one last time to get closer but failed as the Knights put up an air-tight defense as time expired
With the win, the Knights improved to 5-1 but remained at No. 3 behind San Beda University (4-0) and College of St. Benilde (3-0). Mapua absorbed its fifth straight defeat.
Larry Muyang led Letran with 24 points and nine rebounds, while Batiller contributed 15 points, Jeo Ambohot 14 points and Jerrick Balanza 11 points in another show of force.
Letran coach Bonnie Tan, however, was not satisfied, saying: “We’re still learning, and I don’t know until when we’re going to learn. We don’t know what we really want to do.”
“I said bad game because coming into the game we know we have the height advantage. But we were outrebounded. I was surprised too that in the last play, they had the ball (possession),” he added. (WAYLON GALVEZ)
LETRAN 89 – Muyang 24, Batiller 15, Ambohot 14, Balanza 11, Yu 8, Ular 6, Sangalang 4, Olivario 3, Mina 2, Javillonar 2, Caralipio 0, Reyson 0.
MAPUA 84 – Buñag 17, Victoria 15, Lugo 12, Bonifacio 10, Gamboa 9, Salenga 6, Gonzales 5, Hernandez 5, Nieles 3, Garcia 2, Serrano 0, Nocum 0, Jabel 0.
Quarters: 19-16; 40-39; 66-60; 89-84.
