Cruz fires 8 triples as Knights down Pirates

Games Tuesday

(The Arena, San Juan)

10 a.m. – Jose Rizal vs Mapua (Jrs)

12 p.m. – Lyceum vs Arellano (Jrs)

2 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Mapua (Srs)

4 p.m. – Lyceum vs Arellano (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines – Mark Cruz put on a scoring show in the fourth quarter as Letran outlasted Lyceum, 74-57, in a highly physical showdown that saw tempers flare after the game to rejoin San Beda at the helm in the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City on Friday.

Cruz unloaded a 17-point flurry, including five of a season-high eight booming triples, in the stretch when the Knights turned a one-point deficit into their 10th victory in 12 outings while catapulting them back to the top along with the Lions.

"We've practiced three hours a day including an hour shooting just in case teams try to zone us," said Letran coach Aldin Ayo. "It just so happened that Mark came through big in this game."

There was some commotion between Lyceum's Cameroonian big man Victor Nguidjol and Letran's Rey Nambatac after the game.

Nambatac was caught in a fighting stance with Nguidjol, who pushed the former after trying to sneak in a lay-up when Letran had already won it.

Nambatac was probably a little angry at Nguidjol for bloodying teammate Christian Balagasay in the nose when the Cameroonian accidentally landed an elbow in one play early in the third quarter.

The Pirates, who were paced by Nguidjol's 20 points and 15 boards, fell to their ninth loss against three wins.

In the other game, St. Benilde smashed a hapless Emilio Aguinaldo, 81-57, to stay light up its flickering Final Four hopes with a 3-9 mark.

EAC fell to 2-10 and closer to elimination.

Worse, the Generals set records in scoring futility as their 18 first points were a league season low and their 31 points after three quarter tied the season-low also set by the Blazers in a 49-67 defeat to the Jose Rizal Bombers on July 28.

The previous season low in first half scoring was 22, which also happened in the CSB-JRU game.

In juniors' action, Lyceum downed Letran, 91-83, to improve to 9-3 while Emilio Aguinaldo shocks La Salle-Greenhills, 75-68, to tie its victim at 6-6.

The Knights dictated the tempo in the first three quarters but lost concentration in early in the fourth when the Pirates made a big run capped by a pair of free throws by Wilson Baltazar that gave the latter a 50-49 lead.

And then Cruz entered the fray and unleashed 17 points the rest of the way to zap the last fight out Lyceum.

The scores:

First game

Letran 74 – Cruz 26, Racal 19, Sollano 10, Nambatac 9, Luib 5, Balagasay 4, Balanza 1, Apreku 0, Calvo 0, Quinto 0

Lyceum 57 – Nguidjol 20, Baltazar 14, Lugo 6, Lacastesantos 4, Alanes 4, Ayaaay 4, Bulawan 3, Taladua 2, Soliman 0, Marata 0, Mbida 0

Quarterscores: 17-11; 28-25; 47-42; 74-57

Second Game