The 6-foot guard pumped in 17 points, including 11 in the second and third periods when Letran broke away to stay, leading the Knights to their eighth victory in 10 outings and within a game of second-running San Beda.
Later, Mapua, getting a big lift from forward Josan Nimes, nailed back-to-back wins after outlasting St. Benilde, 94-90, in overtime.
Nimes almost single-handedly willed the Cardinals back in the game in the second half, before joining forces with Allan Manghas in the extra session as Mapua moved into a share of fifth with its victims with a 4-6 card.
The significance of the game was not lost on Cardinals coach Chito Victolero.
“We should beat teams like St. Benilde if we want to stay in contention for the Final Four,” said Victolero. “I’m happy the players delivered this time. They learned their lesson from the first round, where we lost five close games.”
Power forward Jam Cortes also delivered for the Knights, putting the finishing touches in the emphatic win with seven of his 16 points coming in the fourth period.
The performances of Alas and Cortes drew praise from Knights coach Louie Alas, whose team pinned a seventh loss on the inconsistent Chiefs.
“I have to give credit to Kevin,” Alas said of his son, who also pulled down seven rebounds and dished out four assists.
“We only knew that he would play today because he has been suffering from a fever the past two days.”
Despite his six turnovers, Alas said Cortes deserves credit for his consistent play.
“Day-in, day-out he’ll give you points and rebounds despite those errors,” Alas said of Cortes, who grabbed nine rebounds.
A 6-foot-3 swingman who was born in Sydney, Australia, but has also lived in Phoenix, USA, Nimes exploded for 21 of his career-high 25 points in the third and fourth quarters where the Cardinals wiped out an 11-point deficit.
Mangahas took over in the extra session with seven of his 23 points and a crucial assist to Mark Sarangay that gave the Cardinals their biggest lead at 92-83 with 1:36 remaining.
Nimes’ triple with 50 seconds remaining in regulation looked to have sealed the win for the Cardinals, 81-77, before baskets from Paolo Taha and Carlo Lastimosa forced overtime.
In juniors play, Letran defeated Arellano, 66-50, to improve to 8-2, while La Salle Green Hills trounced Mapua, 75-64, to arrest a two-game slide and jack up its record to 7-3.
The scores:
First Game
LETRAN 73—Alas K. 17, Cortes 16, Racal 11, Espiritu 7, Cruz 6, Alas J. 5, Almazan 4, Belorio 3, Dysam 2, Gabawan 2, Cudal 0, Gabriel 0, Lituania 0, Mendoza 0, Pantin 0.
ARELLANO 59—Lapuz 16, Celada 14, Zulueta 14, Acidre 6, Doligon 3, Caperal 2, Casiño 2, Palma 2, Del Rosario 0, Pagayunan 0.
Quarters: 14-11, 37-26, 56-42, 73-59
Second Game
MAPUA 94—Nimes 25, Mangahas 23, Pascual 9, Sarangay 8, Parala 7, Stevens 7, Ighalo 6, Banal 4, Taha 4, Chien 1, Ranises 0.
ST. BENILDE 90—Lastimosa 23, Grey 21, Taha 19, Romero 14, Altamirano 5, Dela Paz 5, Sinco 2, McCoy 1, Carlos 0, Deles 0, Nayve 0.
Quarters: 16-24, 37-44, 59-62, 81-81 (reg) 94-90