DEO Cuajao and rookie Jimboy Estrada delivered big time for Letran as it scored a 101-98 double overtime victory against San Sebastian College yesterday to get back on track in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Cuajao fired a career-high 34 points while Estrada, who returned to the squad after serving a one-game suspension, dropped a career-best 30 markers, along with seven rebounds and five assists.
The victory enabled Letran to snap a three-game losing slide and improve to 7-6 while the Golden Stags sank to 3-10.
Big man Kevin Santos also contributed a double-double of 13 points and 11 boards for the Intramuros-based crew. Pao Javillonar and Jace Miller combined for 14 markers for the Knights.
“For me, for the past three games, we need to focus on us. What I’m trying to say is, for the past three games, we’re always outrebounded and ang dami naming ibinibigay na offensive rebounds resulting to second chance points. Secondly, ang dami naming tinatapon na bola resulting to points off turnovers so that’s the story of our previous games, sa mga talo namin,” Letran coach Allen Ricardo said. “So, ang sabi ko lang sa kanila, iyon muna ang ayusin natin, kailangan ma-secure muna natin.
“Then maybe we have a good chance to win in the upcoming games,” he added.
In the second game, Arellano University cruised past Perpetual 66-58 for its second straight win.
Maverick Vinoya spearheaded the Chiefs’ attack with 20 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal while Tmac Ongotan dished out 11 markers, seven boards, two dimes, a steal and a block.
Arellano tied the Altas at 5-8.
“Siguro ito iyong prinactice namin, yesterday, kung ano iyong gusto naming gawin kasi alam naming may antidote si coach Olsen (Racela). Alam naman natin kung paano sila mag-isip and as a point guard, inisip ko na rin kung ano iyong dapat gawin, so may tinago lang kami, hindi lang kami nabasa noong fourth quarter,” Arellano strategist Chico Manabat said.
“Pinaka-maganda kasi dito, prinactice namin, iyong preparation ang importante. Kahit na down kami, basta we stick to the system, gawin lang natin iyong prinactice natin, and tatama rin iyong ginagawa namin.”