Knights clinch s’final playoff

LETRAN came out with all guns blazing and routed a listless Jose Rizal U squad, 75-50, last night to secure  at least a playoff for a Final Four spot in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Humbled by Emilio Aguinaldo College the last time out, the Knights vented their ire on the Bombers and notched their largest winning margin of the tournament to improve to 11-3.

Raymond Almazan dished out another double-double with 14 points and a season-high tying 20 rebounds on top of three blocks, while Kevin Racal finished with 17 points and five boards.

Letran also got solid contributions from the returning Ford Ruaya and Jonathan Belorio, who chipped in 10 points apiece.

The Knights opened the game on a 20-4 tear behind Racal, before finishing off the Bombers with a 27-point outburst in the final period to complete the wire-to-wire victory.

“The nice thing is that we won convincingly,” said Letran coach Caloy Garcia, whose squad has a tough schedule ahead with games against San Sebastian, Perpetual Help and San Beda coming up in the last three weeks of the elimination round.

The loss further dented the Bombers’ hopes of reaching the Final Four after  missing the semifinals last season. By dropping to   5-8. JRU fell three  games behind San Sebastian in the race for the last Final Four berth.

Later, Levi Hernandez sizzled for 28 points as Arellano notched the biggest output of the season in a 115-75 whipping of Mapua.

Hernandez nailed six triples on his way to a season-high output, while boosting the Chiefs to only their fifth win in 14 games.

Arellano kept its slim hopes alive for a Final Four slot, while Mapua lost a 12th straight game (1-13).

The scores:
First Game
LETRAN 75—Racal 17, Almazan 14, Ruaya 10, Belorio 10, Nambatac 7, Tambeling 6, Cruz 6, Luib 5, Po 0, Olotu 0, Buenaflor 0, Publico 0.
JRU 50—Paniamogan 20, Lasquety 9, Mabulac 6, Salaveria 6, Dela Paz 5, Diego 2, Sanchez 2, Cortez 0, Juanico 0, Gozum 0, Balagtas 0, Grospe 0, Abanto 0.
Quarters: 20-6, 34-22, 48-36, 75-50
Second Game
ARELLANO 115—Hernandez 28, Caperal 20, Forrester 19, Agovida 13, Pinto 10, Salcedo 6, Serjue 6, Margallo 5, Jalalon 4, Cadavis 2, Enriquez 2,Gumaru 0, Bangga 0.
MAPUA 75—Ighalo 29, Estrella 14, Brana 11, Eriobu 11, Saitanan 3, Cantos 3, Biteng 2, Isit 2, Gabo 0, Guzman 0, Gonzalez 0, Magtoto 0.
Quarters: 29-15, 56-35, 83-57, 115-75.