MANILA—Final Four-bound Letran, using another solid defensive effort in the second half, fanned its winning streak to eight games with an 80-58 drubbing of Emilio Aguinaldo College, even as San Beda bounced back from only its second defeat in the last two seasons in the 87th NCAA basketball tournament.
Kevin Alas fired 20 points, pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out six assists as the Knights picked up their 12th victory in 14 outings and keep second spot ahead of the Red Lions, who overwhelmed the Mapua Cardinals, 76-59, in the second game at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
“Our defensive adjustments worked in the second half,” said Letran coach Louie Alas, after the Knights pulled away from 35-all in the last two quarters.
Raymond Almazan and Franz Dysam also made significant contributions with 11 points apiece for the Knights, who missed starting power forward Jam Cortes because of suspension for incurring three flagrant fouls in the tournament.
San Beda completed the day of blowouts with a dominant effort against the Cardinals, who fell to their ninth loss in 15 games. The Red Lions, who were already assured of a Final Four berth before the game, improved to 11-2 to stay in third, half a game behind the Knights.
With the loss, the Cardinals are now locked in a three-team tie with Jose Rizal U and Lyceum in the race for the last Final Four berth.
The defeat sent the Generals teetering to the brink of elimination, after falling to 4-12.
Garvo Lanete shot 20 points, while rookie Baser Amer finished with 13 points, eight of which came in the second quarter when the Red Lions began to break away.
First Game:
LETRAN 80—K. Alas 20, J. Alas 12, Almazan 11, Dysam 11, Belorio 7, Racal 7, Espiritu 5, Cruz 2, Mendoza 2, Lituania 2, Gabawan 1, Gabriel 0, Cudal 0.
EAC 58—Morada 15, Paguia 10, Jamon 10, Cubo 9, vargas 4, King 3, Villegas 3, Torralba 2, Diolato 2, Sanchez 0, Chong 0, Yaya 0, Juliano 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 35-35, 59-46, 80-58.
Second Game:
SAN BEDA 76—Lanete 20, Amer 13, Villahermosa 11, J. Pascual 9, Marcelo 6, Caram 5, K. Pascual 4, Dela Rosa 3, Semerad D. 3, Sorela 2
MAPUA 59—Mangahas 19, Nimes 14, Taha 12, Banal 4, Sarangay 3, Pascual 3, Ighalo 2, Parala 2, Chien 0, Stevens 0.
Quarters: 18-16, 44-26, 57-43, 76-59