Knights blow hot, cold, survive Cards

Games Tuesday

10 a.m. – Perpetual Help vs Jose Rizal (jrs)

12 noon – San Beda vs Arellano (jrs)

2 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Jose Rizal (jrs)

4 p.m. – San Beda vs Arellano (srs)

MANILA, Philippines - Letran blew a 21-point bulge in the first half but fought back from seven points down in the fourth quarter, pulling off a pulsating 80-77 victory over Mapua to regain the solo lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City yesterday.

Rey Nambatac bucked early foul woes and a nagging ankle as he took charge in the final period, pouring 14 of his team-high 22 points to power the Knights back to the top of the heap with an 8-1 mark.

“I have to give it to Nambatac. He played big even though he’s coming into the game still recovering from a sprained ankle,” said Letran coach Aldin Ayo, who also returned from a one-game suspension.

Letran, with Nambatac scattering eight points and Mark Cruz and rookie Jerrick Balanza backing him up with tough baskets, looked headed for an easy romp after storming to a 48-27 lead late in the second period.

But the Knights turned a bit cold at the start of the third, missing a series of shots and committing turnovers. That enabled the Cardinals, behind Nigerian Allwell Oraeme, to claw within a point, 59-60, at the end of the period.

Exequiel Biteng then came through with triples early in the fourth as the Cardinals took a 67-60 lead.

But Nambatac regained his form and led Letran’s own fightback which the Cardinals failed to neutralize.

Oraeme had 22 points and a season-high 28 rebounds but the Cardinals missed injured Josan Nimes (back) and CJ Isit (elbow) and fell to their fifth loss against four wins.

It could’ve been a big win for the Cardinals, who came into the match reeling from an 87-90 defeat to the Jose Rizal U Bombers last Tuesday when they blew an 18-point lead with less than four minutes left.

In the other game, Arellano U routed St. Benilde, 85-73, to move to joint fourth with Jose Rizal U at 5-3.

The Blazers fell to a four-way logjam at No. 7 with the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, the San Sebastian Stags and the Lyceum Pirates at 2-7.

In juniors’ action, Mapua routed Letran, 97-63, to end the first round at No. 2 with an 8-1 mark behind unbeaten San Beda.

The scores:

Letran 80 – Nambatac 22, Cruz 16, Balanza 11, Luib 10, Racal 9, Quinto 8, Apreku 2, Sollano 2, Calvo 0, Balagasay 0

Mapua 77 – Oareme 22, Biteng 15, Que 13, Serrano 8, Nieles 7, Menina 6, Aguirre 3, Raflores 2, Stevens 0, Villasenor 0, Brana 0

Quarterscores: 25-21; 53-38; 60-59; 80-77

Second Game

Arellano 85- Nicholls 19, Jalalon 13, Salado 11, Gumaru 9, Holts 6, Ortega 6, Capara 4, Cadavis 4, Zamora 4, Enriquez 3, Meca 2, Bangga 2, Tano 2, Ongolo 0, de Guzman 0

St. Benilde 73- Grey 24, Saavedra 16, J. Domingo 15, S. Domingo 6, Ongteco 4, Sta. Maria 4, Fajarito 3, Castro 1, Nayve 0, Deles 0, Young 0, San Juan 0

Quarterscores: 30-17; 49-34; 74-48; 85-73