CSJL Knights VS LPU Pirates

Letran squandered a seven-point lead but gained from a crucial trey from Kevin Alas to escape with a 92-89 win over Lyceum in overtime in the NCAA Season 87 at the Arena in San Juan City today.

Alas, who missed two freethrows that could have helped Letran's cause in the dying seconds of regulation, made up for it with a booming triple with 29.5 ticks left in the extension that handed the Knights a 90-86 cushion.

There was enough time for a fightback but the Pirates (4-4) just fell short as John Azores split two sets of charities in the last 3.7 ticks while Shane Ko and Dexter Zamora flubbed their three-point tries.

"It was an ugly win but a win is a win," said Letran coach Louie Alas, whose crew squandered an 87-80 tear in the extra time but managed to emerge victorious en route to hiking its card to 5-2.

Kevin Alas led three Letran players in double-double outputs, firing 24 points and 12 assists to go with five steals. Cramps-hit Jam Cortes had 14 markers and 11 rebounds while Jonathan Belorio added 10 points and 10 boards.

"It was more of basketball sense because the mental toughness was lost in the end. The boys were tired. But let's give credit to LPU, too, they're scrappy and well coached," Alas said.

Lyceum was led by Chris Cayabyab's 29 and Floricel Guevarra's 17.

The Pirates took a 77-74 lead in the fourth period but Letran's Jay Espiritu sank a triple with 38.4 seconds to go to send the game into overtime. - Olmin Leyba

The scores:

Letran 92 - K. Alas 24, Cortes 14, Racal 13, Belorio 10, Espiritu 9, Cruz 7, Dysam 7, Almazan 6, Mendoza 2, Lituania  0, Pantin 0, J. Alas 0.

Lyceum 89 - Cayabyab 29, Guevarra 17, Santos 11, Laude 9, Napiza 8, Ko, 6, Azores 5, Zamora 2, Lacap 2, Mallari 0, Lesmoras 0, Anacta 0.

Quarters: 16-14, 40-35, 64-48, 77-77, 92-89