DEFENDING champion Letran fell into a stupor during the Holy Week break and it showed in the early stretches against a surprisingly hard-fighting Lyceum yesterday.
But the Knights eventually got their acts together in time and carved out a nail-biting 80-77 victory over the Pirates to remain unbeaten in the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
After a John Barba layup that shoved Lyceum to within 77-78 in the final 37.5 seconds, ace Letran guard Fran Yu scored on a clutch jumper that pegged the final count with 23.0 to go.
JM Bravo shot an airball three-point try in Lyceum’s next offensive thrust, but Jeo Ambohot muffed two free throws that left the door open for the Pirates, only 3.8 ticks left.
But Yu came up with a steal on Renzo Navarro that sealed the Knight’s hard-earned triumph.
In the other game, San Beda University whipped Arellano University 82-68 for its fifth straight win.
Fil-Canadian James Kwekuteye led the Red Lions with 14 points and four rebounds, while Gab Cometa had 11 markers.
With the big follow-up to its 61-60 decision over San Sebastian College last April 8, San Beda hiked its record to 5-0 in a tie with Letran.
The Chiefs failed to score a fitting encore to their 72-63 upset win over the Mapua University Cardinals last April 10 and dropped to 2-4 for joint sixth with the Stags and Perpetual Help.
Rhenz Abando scattered 14 points, on top of five rebounds for Letran, while Ambohot wound up with 13 markers, 13 boards, and five blocks.
The Knights, coming off an 80-60 thumping of the Cardinals 10 days ago, rose to 5-0.
Lyceum absorbed a 71-83 loss to San Sebastian last April 10 and fell to 1-5, tied with Jose Rizal University.
