Knights prove they’re back, ambush Lions

If there were doubts about Letran’s status as title contenders in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament, the Knights quickly extinguished them yesterday with a ruthless display against the defending five-time champion San Beda Red Lions.

The Knights took the Lions out of their comfort zone with their pressing defense and relied on their outside shooting to come away with a 93-80 victory before a capacity crowd at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Kevin Racal finished with 20 points to lead five Letran players in double figures as the Knights streaked to a third straight win for a tie with Perpetual Help at the top, while sending the Lions to their first loss in third games.

“We don’t run and gun, we run and execute,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. “We tried to find ways to beat them but eventually we had to stick to our strength, which is pressure on defense and execution on offense.”

Earlier, Shaq Alanes fired a triple with 6.7 seconds remaining to lift Lyceum past St. Benilde, 72-69, for its first win in three outings.

Alanes, who spent last season with Lyceum’s Team B, capped his 18-point showing with the game’s biggest shot that shoved the Pirates ahead, 70-69, after the Blazers had taken the lead through Jonathan Grey’s own triple.

Disruptive on defense as they held the Lions to a season-low output after averaging 104.5 points in the first two games, the Knights also found their stride from beyond the arc with 10 triples.

The Knights led by as large as 21 points, 67-46, with 1:44 remaining in the third period after back-to-back triples by Rey Nambatac and Mark Cruz.

The Lions clawed their way back, 76-81, on a Ryusei Koga triple but Racal scored on a layup to preserve a comfortable lead.

The scores:

First Game

LYCEUM 72—Alanes 18, Lugo 16, Gabayni 11, Baltazar 10, Ayaay 8, Soliman 2, Nguidjol 2, Marata 2, Lacastesantos 2, Bulawan 1, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Taladua 0, Mbida 0, Elmejrab 0.

1. BENILDE 69—Grey 19, Saavedra 12, Nayve 11, Ongteco 7, Fajarito 7, Jonson 6, Flores 3, JJ Domingo 2, Castor 2, JS Domingo 0, Deles 0, Sta. Maria 0, Dixon 0, Young 0, San Juan 0.

Quarters: 16-16, 30-29, 44-38, 72-69

Second Game

LETRAN 93—Racal 20, Cruz 16, Nambatac 13, Calvo 12, Sollano 10, Apreku 9, Luib 6, Quinto 5, Balanza 2, Balagasay 0, Publico 0.

SAN BEDA 80—Adeogun 20, De La Cruz 18, Amer 10, Koga 7, Tongco 7, Tankoua 6, Cabanag 4, Mocon 4, Sorela 4, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0, Sedillo 0.

Quarters: 21-15, 55-32, 67-53, 93-80