LETRAN’S Kevin Racal draws a foul on the drive from Joseph Eriobu of Mapua in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ
Mark Cruz delivered another dazzling show on both ends of the floor as Letran notched its most convincing win of the season with an 87-68 drubbing of Mapua last night in the NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The fleet-footed guard stood tallest anew, pumping in 22 points that went with 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals as the Knights stretched their unbeaten start to seven games and firmed up their grip of top spot just before the league goes on a two-week break for the Fiba Asia Championship.
The Knights opened the game with a blistering 25-8 onslaught en route to their best start to the season since 2005 when they scored 11 straight wins on their way to their 16th title.
“It’s nice to be on top, but we’re still far from our goal, which is to win the championship,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia, only in his first season with the Knights. “We’re just happy to be 7-0 just before the break.”
The 5-foot-6 Cruz set the tone for the rout with eight points in the first quarter, before putting the Cardinals away with eight straight points midway in the final period that pushed the lead to 82-61, time down to 2:58 minutes.
The Cardinals took their fourth straight loss for a league-worst 1-6 mark, leaving coach Atoy Co searching for answers to his wards’ inability to get their acts together in crucial moments.
Letran center Raymund Almazan also dished out a big game with 13 points and 14 boards and two blocks.
With the Knights not playing until Aug. 15, Garcia hopes to keep Almazan sharp by assigning him to work out with PBA team Rain or Shine, where he is the assistant coach.
The Knights shot just below 50 percent and dished out 18 assists.
Cruz, who fired 23 points against Arellano, dedicated the win to teammate Franz Dysam, who is recuperating from bullet wounds after surviving an ambush some two weeks ago.
The seniors scores:
First Game
LETRAN 87—Cruz 22, Almazan 13, Belorio 12, Luib 11, Tambeling 8, Racal 8, Nambatac 7, Po 3, Buenaflor 3, Castro 0, Ruaya 0, Olotu 0, Publico 0.
MAPUA 68—Ighalo 17, Biteng 11, Eriobu 11, Brana 11, Isit 6, Saitanan 6, Gonzalez 2, Magsigay 2, Estrella 2, Sumampong 0, Gabo 0, Guzman 0, Magtoto 0, Layug 0.
Quarters: 25-8, 47-30, 68-53, 87-68