HACKED: San Sebastian College’s Ian Suico gets fouled by Jeadan Ongotan of Arellano University. NCAA PHOTO

DEO Cuajao and Kevin Santos took charge as Letran escaped College of St. Benilde 71-69 yesterday in a highly physical game in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Cuajao, who fired 15 points in the fourth quarter alone on 4-of-6 beyond the arc, sizzled for the Knights with 20 markers while Jimboy Estrada added 17, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block and handed the Blazers their first loss of the season.

Veteran big man Paolo Javillonar also shone for the Intramuros-based squad with 13 points while Kevin Santos played the hero’s role with the game-winning basket.

“Well, for me, I always told the boys let’s focus on the defense and at the same time sabi ko rin sa kanila itong game na ito just keep the game close, pagdating sa dulo we have a chance,” Letran coach Allen Ricardo, whose team improved to 3-2, said.

“Well, sabi ko kay Deo, as long as there’s enough space don’t hesitate (to shoot). Tiwala ako na masho-shoot mo iyan dahil nakita ko na iyan sa iyo noong bata ka pa,” he added.

Blazers guard Jhomel Ancheta was ejected from the game when he was called for a disqualifying foul for hitting the head of Javillonar at the 6:44 mark of the second quarter.

Tony Ynot led the Blazers who fell to 4-1 with 15 points, while Allen Liwag had a double-double performance of 12 markers and 15 boards.

Earlier, Arellano University trounced San Sebastian College 87-73 for its first win.

Jeadan Ongotan, a native of Bulan, Sorsogon, came through with one of his best games thus far with 21 points, five rebounds and the same number of assists as the Chiefs finally broke through the win column after dropping their first four outings of the season.

Arellano had actually come close to breaking the ice in several of those losses but eventually faltered in the head.

But on this particular day, the Chiefs summoned everything it had to hold on to the victory that it hoped would start something big for the team.

The game also produced heroes in Lorenz Capulong, who had a double-double effort of 12 points and 10 boards, and the duo of Cyril Hernal and Troy Valencia, who chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.

It was the Golden Stags’ third straight defeat that sent them from being unbeaten and at the helm once to the bottom half of the standings with a 2-3 card.