BY ABBY TORALBA
REIGNING three-time champion Letran ripped San Sebastian College 86-71 yesterday for its breakthrough win in the 99th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Deo Cuajao scored 14 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out four assists for the Knights, while Neil Guarino and Kobe Monje added 13 markers each in the absence of veteran Kurt Reyson.
The victory was also the first win for rookie Letran coach Rensy Bajar since replacing Bonnie Tan at the helm as his troops improved to 1-7.
“Siyempre, napakasaya because kahit papaano nalampasan namin iyong 0-7, kahit papaano may isa kami despite na medyo kulang-kulang iyong team, maraming may sakit sa mga players namin,” Bajar said.
Rafael Are produced a game-high 20 points for the Stags, while Romel Calahat got 14 markers.
Raymart Escobido also had 12 points for San Sebastian, which slipped to 3-5.
“I give credit to all my players kasi sila talaga iyong naglaro, sila iyong gusto manalo talaga,” he added.
Earlier, Mapua University thumped a fading Arellano University side 79-65 to keep its hold of the top spot.
The Cardinals put the game to bed as early as the second quarter by breaking loose from a 26-all count and never looked back to notch their seventh win in eight games, which solidified their position at No. 1.
Mapua tactician Randy Alcantara said he is seeing the same big heart they had when the Benny Cheng-led Cardinals quintet where he was a cog delivered the school’s last diadem 32 years ago.
