REIGNING two-time champion Letran turned desire to game yesterday and dodged the upset axe wielded by gritty Jose Rizal University.
Getting their acts together in time, the Knights outlasted the Heavy Bombers 101-97 in overtime for their first win in the 98th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
A Fran Yu free throw gave Letran a 99-97 cushion with 13.5 seconds remaining in OT before the Knights’ stingy defense forced JRU into a costly inbound violation.
Yu calmly sank two pressure-packed foul shots that pegged the final count, only 10.9 ticks left.
Kurt Reyson scattered a career-high 31 points spiked by six three-pointers, to go with five rebounds, and five assists for Letran, while King Caralipio chipped in 14 markers, 11 boards, and three dimes.
Brent Paraiso and Yu also had 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Knights, who had to work hard for the triumph that launched their bid for a three-peat.
Letran lost reigning Rookie of the Year and MVP Rhenz Abando, who opted to bring his act to the Korean Basketball League; Jeo Ambohot, and Allen Mina, now proving their worth in the PBA.
The Bombers, coming off a 60-84 loss to Perpetual Help four days ago, dropped to 0-2.
In the other game, Lyceum stunned Mapua University 76-67 for its first victory.
John Barba uncorked 16 points, grabbed three rebounds, and issued two assists for the Pirates.
Mclaude Guadana also had 13 and two as Lyceum bounced back from a 69-86 defeat to College of St. Benilde last Sunday and improved to 1-1.
The Cardinals could not sustain the grit they showed in a 66-55 win over San Beda University last Saturday and slipped to 1-1.
Coach Bonnie Tan heaped praises on his Knights after they refused to wilt when it mattered most.
“It’s all about heart and suwerte. It’s for JRU (to take the win) na talaga pero nakahabol pa sa huli and Kurt Reyson had a good game. Wala na akong masabi sa kanya and for me it’s for him to step up kasi dati siyang nao-overshadow ng veterans,” Tan said.
“We’re just happy with the win. Going into the game, talagang blindfolded kami. Hindi pa namin alam paano manalo, hindi pa namin alam kung sino ang first five namin, we’re just blessed na mai-pull through namin ito,” he added.
JRU took a 49-41 lead at the half and still enjoyed a 74-71 buffer heading into the payoff period.
The Bombers muffed their chance of pulling off a stunner as Jason Celis could only make one of his two freebies 89-86 that gave Letran a lifeline.
The Knights’ Kobe Monje came up with a steal that led to a clutch Reyson triple in the last 5.0 seconds of regulation before Celis missed on a jumper at the buzzer.
John Amores, who nearly figured in scuffle with Monje after the match, carried the fight for JRU with 19 points and six caroms, while Agem Miranda added 18 markers.
Ry Dela Rosa, Celis, and Joshua Guiab also contributed 14, 14, and 10 points, respectively for the Bombers.
“It’s a very big win for us. Everybody knows Mapua is a strong team and a contender last season. So, iyon lang, sinabi ko lang sa players na we have to follow the system,” Pirates strategist Gilbert Malabanan said.
“We have to be aggressive offensively and defensively and nakita ko naman na naglaro sila defensively, sinunod nila iyong system naming and naging organize and discipline sila. We got the win.”
After taking a 33-39 lead at the break, Lyceum padded its edge to 59-49 going into the final canto.
The Pirates took their biggest advantage at 74-59 on Renzo Navarro’s two free throws with 1:51 remaining.
