NCAA: Letran tightens 3rd spot grip after thrashing JRU

Mark Cruz of Letran Knights squeezes himself into Nate Matute and Ronnel Carampeil of JRU Heavy Bombers in the 87th NCAA men's basketball tournament Wednesday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines—Letran shook off a lackadaisical first half to turn back struggling Jose Rizal University, 75-56, Wednesday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Knights, who tightened their hold of the third spot at 9-2, outscored the Heavy Bombers, 29-13, in the fourth quarter.

Shifty guard Kevin Alas dished out another stat-sheet stuffer of a game with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists while banger Jam Cortes added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Kevin Racal and Mark Cruz also notched double-digits in scoring with 10 points apiece.

JRU even led in the opening period and managed to keep in step with Letran as the game saw both squads knotted at 41.

The Bombers though, failed to sustain their game for four quarters with the Knights clamping them down on defense with Cortes and Raymond Almazan manning the paint.

The six-foot-seven Almazan, who has been a revelation this season, was not able to replicate his monstrous eight-point, 17-rebound output in their first round encounter with JRU but was as effective as he was with seven points, nine rebounds, two steals and three blocks.

Jose Rizal U absorbed another jarring loss and fell even further in the standings at 3-8.