Letran stains Benilde perfect record in chippy thriller, Arellano nabs 1st win vs Baste

MANILA, Philippines – There will be no stepladder men’s basketball finals in NCAA Season 100 after Letran ended the four-game win streak of contending College of St. Benilde in a chippy 71-69 thriller at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Sunday, September 22.

Veteran gunner Deo Cuajao led the win with 20 points on 5-of-11 shooting from three. Jimboy Estrada scattered 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block as the Knights rose to a 3-2 record, tying Perpetual and defending champion San Beda.

PBA-bound center Pao Javillonar scored 13 with 3 boards for Letran, and got tangled up in a scuffle after bumping bodies with Benilde’s Jhomel Ancheta, who responded with a swipe to the back of Javillonar’s head and promptly got ejected.

“I just told them to keep the game close so in the end, we have a chance,” said Letran coach Allen Ricardo.

Tony Ynot paced the Blazers with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals as big man Allen Liwag chipped in a 12-point, 15-board double-double plus 5 dimes in the loss that still saw Benilde solo on top despite slipping to 4-1.

Meanwhile, the Arellano Chiefs turned their skidding fortunes around with an 87-73 runaway for a 1-4 record against the stumbling San Sebastian Stags, who fell to a 2-3 slate after a torrid two-game season start.

Jeadan Ongotan led the breakthrough with a stellar 21-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist line, while Lorenz Capulong tallied a double-double of 12 points and 10 boards.

Ameer Aguilar was the lone bright spot in the loss with a 14-point, 4-steal spurt in just 12 minutes of action.

The Scores

First Game

Arellano 87 – Ongotan 21, Capulong 12, Hernal 11, Valencia 10, Vinoya 9, Camay 9, Geronimo 7, Borromeo 4, De Leon 2, Estacio 2, Miller 0, Rosalin 0, Abiera 0, Libang 0.

San Sebastian 73 – Aguilar 14, Ricio 11, Are 11, Pascual 8, Escobido 7, L. Gabat 7, Velasco 5, Suico 4, R. Gabat 4, Felebrico 2, Barroga 0, Lintol 0, Ramilo 0, Maliwat 0.

Quarters: 32-20, 51-43, 74-60, 87-73.

Second Game

Letran 71 – Cuajao 20, Estrada 17, Javillonar 13, Montecillo 8, Monje 8, Santos 2, Nunag 2, Galoy 1, Delfino 0, Dimaano 0, Baliling 0, Miller 0, Jumao-As 0, Pradella 0.

CSB 69 – Ynot 15, Liwag 12, Sangco 11, Torres 7, Cajucom 6, Sanchez 5, Eusebio 5, Ancheta 4, Cometa 2, Oli 2, Morales 0, Turco 0.

Quarters: 20-14, 35-41, 46-55, 71-69.

– Rappler.com