Knights, Chiefs repel foes, brace for crucial match

MANILA, Philippines - Letran and Arellano, bracing for their vital showdown on Friday, pulled off contrasting wins over Mapua and Angeles University Foundation, respectively, yesterday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at the Fil-Oil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Knights came charging back from a 15-point deficit and upended the Cardinals, 70-65, while the Chiefs started strong and clobbered the Great Danes, 84-69, to remain tied for fourth with 7-4 (win-loss) slates.

They break the standoff in a crucial match Friday at the same venue.

“The team’s goal is to make the Final Four. If we’re to make it there, we have to beat Arellano. They will be a big test for us Friday,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.

“This game is a good preparation for Letran on Friday. Good thing, we got our streak going, giving us the momentum to ride on as we go up against Letran in a critical game,” said Arellano coach Junjie Ablan.

Mapua and AUF blew their semis hopes goodbye as both suffered their 10th loss against a lone win.

Rey Guevarra, Rafael Jazul and Kevin Alas fueled a key Letran turnaround from a struggling start, combining for 29 points in the second half.

Guevarra scored 10 of his game-high 18 points in the third period, starring in a torrid attack that had the Knights surging ahead at 53-51 from 30-45.

The Knights went on to stretch their lead to eight, 61-53, before fending off the Cardinals’ own fightback at the finish.

“I think going on a single defensive coverage in the final half was the key adjustment we made in the game. We’re very eager at the start that our doubling defense just wouldn’t work,” said Alas.

Ablan also pointed to their defense as the biggest factor in their win against Angeles U.

The Chiefs used an unforgiving pressing defense and went to Giorgio Ciriacruz, Andrian Celada, Isiah Ciriacruz and Rodrigo Apostol on the offensive end to stretch their streak to five games.

“The game plan was to simply press them, knowing they’re not good on breaking pressing defense. I think we’re able to do what we wanted to,” said Ablan.

Arellano forced Angeles to commit 31 errors on its press, and the Chiefs cashed in heavily on it, outscoring the Great Danes, 32-12, on points off turnovers.

Celada, Apostol and the Ciriacruz brothers went to work early, giving the Chiefs a 40-point spread, 41-21, right in the first half.