Letran keeps NCAA Final Four bid going

Kevin Racal INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines  –  Letran remained in Final Four contention following a hard-fought 75-73 win over slumping San Sebastian in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament Monday night at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Kevin Racal scored 20 points while Mark Cruz added 17 for the Knights.

“We’re trying to keep our hopes alive,” said Letran head coach Caloy Garcia, whose team has won its third straight game and four of its last five.

The Knights improved to 6-7 but not after having to survive a scare against the Stags.

San Sebastian, losers of 10 straight, trailed by double digits at one point in the game but came within less than a second short of forcing overtime with Bobby Balucanag’s last-second basket waived off after a review showed the ball still in his hands as time ran out.

Letran took a 72-67 lead on a 3-pointer by Cruz with under two minutes left but the Knights missed three of their last four free throws inside the final 30 seconds with Rey Nambatac muffing a pair with 4.7 ticks remaining that left the door open for San Sebastian.

CJ Perez scored a game-high 22 points while Bradwyn Guinto tallied 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Stags, who dropped at the cellar with a 3-11 mark.

The Knights are still two places and a couple games behind out of the playoff picture with five games left and a clash with redemption-seeking San Beda next.

The Knights beat the defending champion Red Lions, who didn’t have the services of Nigerian center Ola Adeogun in their previous meeting.