Bong Quinto. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
Bong Quinto drilled the go-ahead layup in the waning seconds to lift Letran to a thrilling 63-61 win over Perpetual Friday for the Knights’ third straight victory in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
The fourth-year forward shrugged off an inadvertent elbow from Prince Eze and scored off an assist from Rey Nambatac to push the Knights up, 63-61, with 12.6 seconds to spare.
Eze muffed a hook shot in the ensuing possession, but King Caralipio dove for the leather and forced a jumpball, with the possession arrow awarding the ball to Letran.
Quinto, though, committed a huge miscue as he inbounded the ball to Rey Nambatac in the backcourt with 2.6 ticks left which kept the window wide open for the Altas.
Unfortunately, Gab Dagangon could not gather the ball from GJ Ylagan’s inbound pass as Letran kept its winning streak.
Quinto paced the Knights with 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists, while Nambatac got a huge double-double of 12 markers, 15 boards, and three dimes in the win to pull their side up to 4-3.
“The tempo of the game wasn’t favoring us, but luckily, the boys didn’t give up even though Perpetual was making a rally. Credit to them because they really worked hard to get the win,” said coach Jeff Napa. “They didn’t give up and they showed the character of the team, especially our veterans. They really stood up and led our team.”
Jerrick Balanza chimed in 12 points and two rebounds, as JP Calvo got 11 markers, with his biggest bucket coming in the final 1:33 as he drained the game-tying corner three to knot the score at 61 and set up the tight finish.
Eze led the skidding Perpetual with 18 points, 16 rebounds, and two blocks, while Dagangon got 10 markers and four boards.
The Altas have now lost back-to-back games, sending them sprawling to a 2-4 card.
The Scores:
LETRAN 63 – Quinto 14, Nambatac 12, Balanza 12, Calvo 11, Pascual 5, Vacaro 4, Ambohot 2, Balagasay 2, Caralipio 1, Taladua 0, Bernabe 0.
PERPETUAL 61 – Eze 18, Dagangon 10, Ylagan 7, Yuhico 5, Sadiwa 5, Tamayo 5, Coronel 4, Hao 3, Pido 2, Mangalino 2, Singontiko 0, Lucente 0.
Quarters: 14-7, 24-19, 39-36, 63-61.