Letran slips past St. Benilde to earn Final 4 playoff

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net

Letran found its mark when it mattered most as it subdued St. Benilde, 66-60, to secure a playoff for the last Final Four spot in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament Tuesday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

Bong Quinto nailed a booming triple from the right wing, which was followed by a huge putback from Rey Nambatac off a JP Calvo fastbreak in the final 18.1 seconds to give the Knights a comfortable 64-59 lead in the clutch.

Though Dino San Juan split his freebies on the other end, Calvo put the nail in the coffin as he drilled two free throws in the last 6.6 ticks to win the game.

Nambatac fired a near double-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Calvo scattered 16 markers, five boards, and four dimes.

Jerrick Balanza also shot 2-of-5 from three to wound up with 13 points and three rebounds, while Jeo Ambohot got 10 markers and 13 boards in the victory.

Letran halted its two-game losing skid to finish the eliminations at 9-9 and move on to the fourth-place playoff against Arellano on Friday.

Still, coach Jeff Napa was unsatisfied with how the Knights fought the Blazers in their closer.

“A win is a win but we can’t play like this coming to the playoff. Arellano is very dangerous and if we want to succeed and move on to the next phase of the tournament, everybody should play their A-game,” he said.

Clement Leutcheu paced St. Benilde (4-14) with 18 points and 18 rebounds, while Eric Pili got 16 markers and six boards in the losing effort.

The Scores:

LETRAN 66 – Nambatac 18, Calvo 16, Balanza 13, Ambohot 10, Quinto 7, Balagasay 2, Bernabe 0, Caralipio 0, Gedaria 0, Mandreza 0, Pamulaklakin 0, Taladua 0, Vacaro 0.

ST. BENILDE 60 – Leutcheu 18, Pili 16, Sta. Maria 6, Castor 4, Dixon 4, Mercado 4, Domingo 3, San Juan 3, Velasco 2, Johnson 0, Naboa 0, Suarez 0, Young 0.

Quarters: 20-11, 28-28, 48-43, 66-60.