Agovida, Holts lead Arellano over Letran in thriller

Keith Agrovida of Arellano U blocks the shot of Daryl Singontico of Letran at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan. INQUIRER PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines — Keith Agovida made the go-ahead basket while Dioncee Holts preserved Arellano’s 63-62 win over Letran in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament Monday at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Agovida capped a 14-point effort with a clutch basket on a third try that put the Chiefs ahead for good, 63-62, with 1:34 left before Holts denied an undergoal stab by Knights forward Ford Ruaya in the waning seconds.

“We’re having a hard time executing in the end but we made the defensive stops. Holts (did well) with the crucial block,” said Arellano coach Jerry Codiñera.

The hard working forward Agovida scored eight points in the fourth quarter and shot six-of-11 from the field and corralled five rebounds.

“It was an MVP performance. He just has to be more consistent,” Codiñera said of Agovida.

“Coach told me to just play my game,” Agovida said in Filipino.

The Chiefs, who rebounded from a heartbreaking triple overtime loss to Jose Rizal U last Friday to hike their record to 6-2, bucked the early ouster of their starting point guard Jiovani Jalalon, who fouled out with still six minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Jalalon still finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block in 22 minutes.

Holts flirted with a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds.

Swingman Kevin Racal also had 14 points for the hard luck Knights, who lost for the fifth time in seven outings.

“You can’t expect Letran to just give up without a fight. They’re a perennial Final Four team,” said Codiñera.

Racal nailed a 3-pointer from the left corner that gave Letran a 62-61 edge with 1:49 left before Arellano regained the lead after Agovida’s basket.