Also-ran Arellano crushes Letran’s Final Four hopes; CSB, Mapua stay tied on top

MANILA, Philippines – The Letran Knights saw their Final Four hopes in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament come to a heartbreaking end after falling to the also-ran Arellano Chiefs in a close one, 67-65, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Wednesday, November 13.

The Knights failed to build on the momentum from their huge 75-71 win against their archrival San Beda Red Lions just three days ago as they officially crashed out of the race for the last playoff spot and wrapped up their Season 100 campaign with an 8-10 card. 

With Letran holding a precarious 65-64 lead with under a minute remaining, Jimboy Estrada – the hero in the Knights’ previous match – committed a costly turnover which led to a crucial basket by Arellano’s Basti Valencia with 18.7 seconds remaining. 

Estrada had a chance to redeem himself in the next play, but the high-scoring guard failed to convert on his trademark mid-range jumper.

Arellano’s Lorenz Capulong left the door open for Letran after splitting his foul shots with 4.7 ticks left, but the Knights couldn’t capitalize on the golden opportunity to win it all as Nat Montecillo’s potential game-winning and season-saving triple rimmed out as time expired.

Capulong propelled Arellano (7-10) to the hard-fought victory with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds, together with 4 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. 

Kobe Monje was a surprise topscorer for Letran – which led by as many as 14 points at one juncture of the ball game – with a career-high 24 points on 9-of-14 shooting, while Montecillo and PBA-bound Paolo Javillonar added 11 markers apiece. 

Estrada had another all-around performance of 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 5 steals for the once-promising Knights – who were tied with San Beda and the Mapua Cardinals at the second spot with a 6-3 record at the end of the first round before going just 2-7 in their last nine games.

Meanwhile, the College of St. Benilde Blazers and the Mapua Cardinals remained knotted at the top spot after posting contrasting wins against San Beda and the San Sebastian Stags, respectively. 

Jhomel Ancheta was a man on a mission for the Blazers as they bounced back from their buzzer-beating loss to the Cardinals last Sunday, November 10 with a 70-62 win against the Red Lions. 

The 5-foot-8 Ancheta produced a game-high 18 points on an ultra-efficient 6-of-9 shooting, highlighted by a cold-blooded, dagger trey off the glass with 44.4 seconds left to put CSB ahead by two-possessions, 68-62.

Top MVP contender Allen Liwag recorded his usual double-double stat line for the Blazers with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Justine Sanchez and Tony Ynot contributed 13 and 10 markers, respectively.

Bismarck Lina paced the Red Lions in their second straight setback with 17 points, while James Payosing delivered a double-double of 12 markers and 11 boards.

The Cardinals, for their part, cruised to an easy 95-79 rout of the Stags, who are already eliminated from playoff contention. 

Yam Concepcion hit 8 of his 10 attempts from the field to come up with a team-best 18 points for Mapua, while Chris Hubilla and JC Recto scored 17 apiece. 

On the other side, Paeng Are topscored for San Sebastian (5-12) with a game-high 22 points.

Already assured of tickets to the Final Four, the Blazers and the Cardinals both moved up to identical 14-3 records, while the Red Lions slipped to a 10-7 slate.

CSB wraps up its elimination round campaign against the Final-Four seeking LPU Pirates on Friday, November 15, while Mapua looks to take care of business against Arellano on Saturday, November 16.

The Scores

First Game

Arellano 67 – Capulong 13, Vinoya 9, Valencia 8, Camay 7, Hernal 7, Geronimo 6, De Leon 4, Borroneo 4, Libang 4, Abiera 3, Miller 2, Ongotan 0, Flores 0.

Letran 65 – Monje 24, Montecillo 11, Javillonar 11, Estrada 10, Miller 5, Santos 2, Nunag 2, Cuajao 0, Jumao-As 0, Dimaano 0.

Quarters: 17-16, 28-40, 51-54, 67-65.

Second Game

CSB 70 – Ancheta 18, Liwag 14, Sanchez 13, Ynot 10, Torres 5, Cometa 4, Morales 3, Sangco 3, Oli 0, Eusebio 0, Turco 0, Serrano 0, Ondoa 0.

San Beda 62 – Lina 17, Payosing 12, Andrada 10, Estacio 7, Sajonia 6, Celzo 4, Songcuya 2, Puno 2, Gonzales 2, Calimag 0, Bonzalida 0, Royo 0, Sollano 0, Tagle 0.

Quarters: 19-20, 34-31, 52-51, 70-62.

Third Game

Mapua 95 – Concepcion 18, Hubilla 17, Recto 17, Garcia 12, Mangubat 8, Escamis 6, Abdulla 6, Bancale 4, Cuenco 3, Jabonete 2, Ryan 2, Igliane 0, Agemenyi 0, Reyno 0.

San Sebastian – Are 22, Escobido 16, R. Gabat 14, Felebrico 13, Aguilar 5, Velasco 3, Cruz 3, P. Gabat 2, Ricio 1, Maliwat 0, Pascual 0, Lintol 0, Suico 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 45-33, 81-49, 95-79.

– Rappler.com