By: Aulyn Gwen Bergado, Marvin Isidro Jr.
The Letran Knights, still winless in the NCAA Season 99 Mens Basketball as it takes it latest loss from the San Beda Red Lions. Photo courtesy of Thomas Villanueva Borja of The LANCE.
San Beda’s last minute hustle was too much for Letran as the Muralla-based squad is still on a winless campaign in the NCAA Season 99.
Following their losses against JRU, Lyceum and EAC, the Knights succumbed to the Red Lions in a heartbreaking 63-68 upset earlier today at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Kurt Reyson recharged from his lopsided outings in the first three matches as he scattered 22 points, scoring the 19 in the second half alongside an assist and a steal.
Coming forth as a stable force for the Knights is Deo Cuajao who churned out 13 points on top of three boards, two assists and a steal.
Stephen Garupil opened his NCAA career on a high note after tallying 11 markers with three assists and three rebounds.
Things went rough for Letran as Rafael Go was ejected from the game early on after an elbow to Peter Alfaro.
But Letran proved that they wanted to hack out a win as they held the momentum in the second frame with Kint Ariar scoring back-to-back triples to give the Knights a 32-26 advantage.
Giving in to the rivalrous tension, both teams trade baskets, proving that this game has high stakes for the longtime rivals.
But in the 4th quarter, the Red Lions slowly creeped up and managed to overtake the Knights' lead as against a series of fouls and scores, Kurt Reyson was a glimmer of hope for the Letran Knights catching the lead in the score of 63 to 62.
San Beda was successful in trying to turn their waves into their favor as they launched a 5-0 scoring blitz in the dying minutes of the game courtesy of Jacob Cortez and Yukien Andrada.
The Knights are still on the hunt for their first win and they will try to hack it on Sunday, October 8 against Arellano University, still at the same venue.
The Scores:
Quarter scores: 13-13, 32-26, 46-45, 63-68.
LETRAN— Reyson 22, Cuajao 13, Garupil 11, Ariar 6, Monje 4, Santos 3, Javillonar 2, Guarino 2, Go 0, Fajardo 0, Bataller 0, Jumao-as 0.
SAN BEDA— Cortez 14, Andrada 14, Cuntapay 10, Visser 7, Puno 6, Payosing 5, Alfaro 5, Gallego 3, Jopia 2, Gonzales 2, Tagie 0.