Kevin Alas
MANILA, Philippines—Kevin Alas unleashed a career-high 35 points as Letran continued its strong push toward a final-four spot after a 97-83 thrashing of College of St. Benilde Monday night in the NCAA Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.
Alas, the six-foot-one guard, notched his second straight 30-point game after dropping 30 points in his previous game against Lyceum.
The Knights jumped out to an early lead, a cushion they never lost.
Letran went on a 13-3 run highlighted by three triples to bust St Benilde’s zone in the latter part of the second period to blow the game open after the Blazers threatened a comeback.
The Blazers never recovered and saw the Knights just pull away. A fearless drive by Alas for his 35th point gave his team a 94-65 lead with 3:08 left.
The 35 points made by Alas were also the highest scored by a player this season, besting the 32 points scored by Perpetual Help’s streak shooter Jett Vidal.
The figure was also the highest score by a Letran player since RJ Jazul had 37 points in 2008 and the highest since former Jose Rizal University standout John Wilson had a 48-point downpour in 2009.