Ato Ular has evolved into a cool customer that the Letran Knights can now rely on in times of uncertainty.
Spending time on the reserved list for two years, Ular finally came out of his shell in lifting the Knights past the Perpetual Help Altas in overtime, 82-80, on Friday in the NCAA Season 95 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“I know that he (Ular) wants to prove something, so I told him that this is his time,” said Letran coach Bonnie Tan after the Knights registered a third consecutive victory for a 3-1 record.
Shooting guard Bonbon Batiller lit up the scoreboard for the Knights with 22 points on eight out of 14 shots made, forming an effective combo with the 19-point, 13-rebound effort of Ular.
“He’s learning fast and has shown a lot of improvement,” said Tan of the 6-foot-5 Ular.
It was a thrilling see-saw battle in the extension period. Left wide open at the corner, Ular drilled in his jumper and came through with a putback in the ensuing play.
But speedster Edgar Charcos drove the length of the floor for a layup that installed the Altas back on the driver’s seat, 80-79, with 38 seconds remaining.
Jeo Ambohot then came to the rescue with an offensive board that the towering pivotman translated to a quick basket.
After Batiller split his free throws with 5.7 seconds left, Ambohot collared another rebound that secured the win following a potential game-tying shot by Angel Razon that entirely missed the target.
Charcos, who nailed a long three that forced the extension, had 15 points in Perpetual’s second defeat after starting the season with a victory over Mapua.
The Lyceum Pirates dealt the Cardinals (0-3) another beating, 79-71, on the impressive all-around output of Jayson Santos in the other game, the second win in three games for last season’s losing finalist.
Agem Miranda buried a corner three with 1.7 seconds left as the Jose Rizal U Heavy Bombers pulled off their first victory of the year under new coach Louie Gonzalez—an 80-77 come-from-behind shocker against the Arellano Chiefs.
Miranda had 26 points for the Bombers (1-3), who sent the Chiefs to 0-3.