ACE forward Rhenz Abando of defending champion Letran yesterday showed why he was considered one of the highly touted recruits when the NCAA was on hiatus due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
With Abando leading the way, the Knights hacked out a 68-57 victory over the Perpetual Help Altas for their third straight win and a share of the lead in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
The 6-foot-2 Abando, a prized transferee from University of Santo Tomas, wound up with a game-high 24 points, to go with five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a block for Letran, while Louie Sangalang chipped in 10 and three.
Allen Mina boomed in two three-pointers and added 10 markers for the Knights, who scored a big follow-up to their 96-67 drubbing of the Arellano University Chiefs last Wednesday.
Perpetual, coming off a 58-63 loss to San Sebastian College last Friday, dropped to 1-2 in a three-way tie with Arellano and Emilio Aguinaldo College.
In the second game, San Beda University whipped Jose Rizal University 67-53 for its third win in as many games and a share of the lead.
James Kwekuteye led the Red Lions’ attack with 17 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and three steals, while Ralph Peneula had 11 markers.
Knights coach Bonnie Tan is not one to fall into a sense of complacency even with their title-retention bid off to a hot start.
“(It’s still a) long way to go. Matagal pa (ang tournament) at iisa-isahin pa natin. May game pa against Mapua (on Friday). Nag-relax iyong third group namin so siguro lesson iyan para pagdating ng practice hindi maging overconfident sa 3-0 natin at ma-improve natin iyong mga corrections ng third group,” Tan said.
“Talagang we’re pressured to win kasi nga as defending champions, lahat naman alam natin na gusto tayong talunin,” he added.
After taking a 28-23 lead at the half, the Knights broke the game wide-open in the third canto and held a 54-36 spread heading into the payoff period.
An Abando triple stretched the difference to as much as 65-46 at the 2:58 mark of the final stanza.
The Altas went on a 9-2 run capped by a Jeff Egan trey to come within 55-67 that proved to be too little, too late with only under a minute left.
Egan scored 15 points, while Kim Aurin had 12 for Perpetual as gunner Jielo Razon went scoreless.
“We’re happy we’re on top right now but I know that Letran is really a strong team. I think they’re averaging close to 20 points iyong lamang nila sa every opponent nila, average.
Except sa game nila against CSB,” Lions strategist Boyet Fernandez said.
“We’re happy we’re there right now but there’s still a lot of work for us. I’ll give credit to JRU. Coach Louie (Gonzalez) really prepared well for us. We’re just happy that we passed by JRU and hindi na namin sila makikita, hopefully if makikita namin sila ulit, sa playoffs na.”
Marwin Dionisio was the lone bright spot for JRU with 10 points.
