Letran squeaks past EAC in OT to end NCAA bid

John Calvo PHOTO BY TRISTAN TAMAYO/INQUIRER.net

Letran suffered a huge meltdown in regulation but hacked out a 93-87 overtime victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College Thursday in the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Knights squandered an 11-point edge, 77-66, with 2:00 left in the clock as Sidney Onwubere and Hamadou Laminou forced overtime. Onwubere scored on a drive followed by a Jorem Morada steal that led to a Laminou bucket that tied a game at 82 with 0.8 seconds remaining.

JP Calvo, though, took control in the extra period, firing seven of his 11 points that went with seven assists and five rebounds.

“Masyadong nag-enjoy. Nakalimutan yatang tapusin yung laro,” said coach Jeff Napa. “At least, natapos naman ng maayos.”

Jom Sollano topped Letran with 21 markers, 12 boards, and three blocks in his final game for the school, while Rey Nambatac got 15 points and six rebounds.

The defending champs failed to advance to the Final Four, ending their campaign at 9-9, tied with JRU at fifth.

Napa would rather look at the year as a learning curve, saying: “The season as a whole, frustrated pero yung frustration, gagamitin ko para sa next year. Kung sino maging player next year will be ready and prepared. Babalik kami ng mas malakas. Yung expectation ko makukuha sa kung ano ang mangyayari next year.”

Laminou paced the Generals with 23 points, 18 rebounds, and two rejections, while Onwubere got 23 markers, eight boards, three dimes, and two blocks.

EAC will end the year with a 6-12 record, good for eighth place.

The Scores:

LETRAN 93 – Sollano 21, Nambatac 15, Quinto 12, Balanza 11, Calvo 11, Apreku 8, Bernabe 5, Ambohot 4, Balagasay 4, Dela Pena 2, Luib 0, Pambid 0, Sario 0, Ular 0, Vacaro 0.
EAC 87 – Laminou 23, Onwubere 23, Munsayac 12, King 9, Serrano 6, Morada 5, Guzman 3, Pascua 3, Diego 2, Neri 1, Aguas 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, General 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarters: 17-14, 33-35, 56-54, 82-82, 93-87.