Team player Fran Yu of Letran College assumed the role of a scorer when his teammates found it hard to torch the nets in the second half en route to a rousing 69-50 win over San Sebastian College yesterday in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Yu scored all of his game-high 19 points in the final 20 minutes of play and also grabbed five rebounds and an assist to lead Letran to its ninth win in 12 games.
Brent Paraiso provided solid backup for Yu, firing 13 points apart from hauling four boards for the defending champion.
Trailing 17-15 in the second quarter, the Knights turned to Kurt Reyson, who sparked an 8-0 run that gave them the lead for good with a connection from beyond the arc.
Head coach Bonnie Tan credited his players for maintaining their composure and keeping their cool when the Golden Stags became physical.
“So far, they responded positively to the gameplan and were composed regardless of the physicality San Sebastian threw at us. We told them (players) that we learned our lesson in the first round and that we have to go hard,” Tan said.
“Fran Yu’s always a pass-first guard and facilitator first and foremost. He saw that the team had a hard time scoring in the second half and that was when he delivered.”
Playing in his final year for the Intramuros-based team, Yu brushed off Tan’s rave reviews, stressing that his priority is to help Letran pull off a three-peat.
“As a player, I don’t play individually. What we want as a team is to get the three-peat,” Yu said.
Louie Sangalang also came up with precious points for Letran, hitting eight.
San Sebastian was led by Kenneth Villapando and Rhinwill Yambing’s eight apiece as the Stags slid to 3-6.
The Scores:
LETRAN (69) — Yu 19, Paraiso 13, Sangalang 8, Reyson 8, Javillonar 7, Caralipio 6, Olivario 5, Guarino 2, Bojorcelo 1, Go 0, Santos 0, Tolentino 0, Monje 0, Miclat 0, Ariar 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN (50) — Villapando 8, Yambing 8, Are 6, Altamirano 6, Shanoda 5, Sumoda 4, Escobido 4, Aguilar 4, Una 2, Felebrico 2, Cosari 1, Suico 0, Paglinawan 0, Desoyo 0.
Quarters: 12-15, 34-28, 49-40, 69-50.
