Letran staves off EAC comeback for 2-0 start

MANILA, Philippines – Letran weathered a late Emilio Aguinaldo College rally for a 79-74 win Saturday night in the NCAA Season 89 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Rookie Rey Nambatac scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds. Nambatac was also steady down the stretch with a put back in the final minute and two free throws with only 25.7 ticks left that gave the Knights a 77-72 cushion.

“We were sluggish at the start until the end it’s good that the breaks of the game went our way. We just have to learn from our mistakes,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia.

“He doesn’t play like a rookie and its easier to handle that kind of player,” Garcia said of his six-foot playmaker.

The Knights improved to 2-0 while the Generals, who drew 22 points from Jose Morada, dropped to 0-2.