Defending champion Letran College finally clinched a Final Four spot after eliminating Emilio Aguinaldo College, 84-77, in Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre Saturday.
King Caralipio led the Knights with a double-double game of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
With Letran holding a 79-75 lead in the fourth quarter, Kurt Reyson hit a clutch triple and Caralipio scored a pair of free throws with 13.4 seconds remaining to secure the Knights to their 12th win in 15 games.
Letran head coach Bonnie Tan said he always tells his players to never underestimate anyone in the NCAA.
The game provided a much-needed workout for the Knights ahead of their match-up with bitter rival San Beda University on Wednesday.
“Again, we always told our players that everything has a purpose. This is a wake-up call for the team to know that no team is weak in the NCAA,” said Tan who drew 45 points from the bench as opposed to EAC’s 20.
“Our second and third stringers really stepped up. We’re going to need everybody’s help, especially in our knockout games.”
Reyson contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and five assists for the Knights while Fran Yu and Louie Sangalang had 10 markers each.
Nat Cosejo’s 21-point output went for naught as the Generals dropped to a 2-14 slate.
In the second game, San Beda ended Mapua University’s Final Four hopes after a 71-63 win.
The Red Lions, who now have a 10-5 win-loss record, exacted revenge on the Cardinals for their exit in the semifinals in Season 97.
San Beda also eliminated Arellano University and the University of Perpetual Help System Dalta.
San Sebastian College and Jose Rizal University are the only other teams whose Final Four hopes are still alive.
James Kwekuteye dropped 25 points and six rebounds for the Red Lions while Justine Sanchez had 11 markers and nine boards.
Warren Bonifacio scored 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Mapua which dropped to a 6-10 slate.
The scores:
First game
LETRAN (84) — Caralipio 16, Reyson 14, Sangalang 10, Yu 10, Paraiso 8, Tolentino 7, Javillonar 5, Santos 4, Ariar 3, Olivario 3, Go 2, Monje 2, Guarino 0.
EAC (77) — Cosejo 21, Tolentino 17, Luciano 16, Dominguez 10, An. Doria 4, Quinal 4, Ad. Doria 3, Balowa 2, Angeles 0.
QUARTERS: 25-17, 38-41, 60-63, 84-77.
Second game
SAN BEDA (71) — Kwekuteye 25, Sanchez 11, Ynot 9, Andrada 7, Cortez 5, Cuntapay 5, Visser 4, Bahio 2, Cometa 2, Alfaro 1, Payosing 0, Penuela 0.
MAPUA (63) — Bonifacio 21, Pido 13, Hernandez 12, Nocum 7, Salenga 4, Mercado 2, Cuenco 2, Soriano 2, Garcia 0, Agustin 0, Lacap 0.
QUARTERS: 19-16, 39-34, 52-45, 71-63.
