NCAA: Abando, Letran thump Perpetual to stay unscathed

Letran’s Rhenz Abando. NCAA/GMA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Letran picked up its third win in as many games after drubbing Perpetual, 68-57, Sunday in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball at La Salle Greenhills Gym.

Bucking a slow start that characterized their previous games, the Knights needed the spark from new recruit Rhenz Abando who scored 11 of his points in the third quarter.

That was also the same time the Altas lost slot man Mark Omega who suffered thigh cramps midway through the period and was never sent back.

The defending champions, who kept their slate clean at 3-0, even afforded to keep center Jeo Ambohot in the sidelines after he scored 20 points in the previous games.

Abando finished a fast break then drilled in a three-pointer to hand the Knights a 46-27 lead in the third as they coasted along from then on. The former University of Santo Tomas forward finished with 24 points and five rebounds.

Perpetual’s back-court duo Jielo Razon and Kim Aurin could not hit their marks all day as the Altas bared their shallow bench.