NCAA: Letran blasts JRU to earn early top spot

If there are still doubts on Letran’s potential with coach Aldin Ayo in tow, maybe the Knights’ convincing 78-62 win over JRU should silence all those naysayers.

The rout gave Letran its second victory in as many games to put the Intramuros-squad at the top of the standings in the NCAA Season 91 men’s basketball tourney at the Arena in San Juan on Friday.

“We really worked hard for it,” said Ayo, who preached Letran its controlled aggression to take the W for the second straight outing.

Rey Nambatac showed the way for the Knights this time out with 25 points on a 4-of-8 shooting from threes, as Kevin Racal finally made his presence felt with 15 markers.

Mark Cruz added 12 points, while Jomari Sollano got a near double-double with 10 markers and nine boards.

Letran flexed its muscle and choked the Heavy Bombers with its full-court press all game long, forcing JRU to commit 17 mistakes for the whole game and breaking away in the third as they took a lead as high as 21, 61-40.

Abdulwahab Abdulrazak topped JRU with 11 points and 12 rebounds, as Paolo Pontejos also chimed in 12 markers.

The Scores:

LETRAN 78 – Nambatac 25, Racal 15, Cruz 12, Sollano 10, Quinto 6, Calvo 3, Luib 3, Apreku 2, Balanza 2, Balagasay 0.

JRU 62 – Pontejos 11, Abdulwahab 11, Sanchez 10, Grospe 9, Dela Paz 8, Lasquety 6, Balagtas 4, Teodoro 3, Poutouochi 0, Aurin 0, Dela Virgen 0.

Quarters: 14-13, 40-36, 63-49, 78-62.