The Letran Knights suddenly fall to the UPHSD Atlas in its first game of the second round of the NCAA Season 99 Men's Basketball. Photo courtesy of Allen Mathew Villanueva of The LANCE.
They say that it's not how you start that's important, but how you finish and Altas just proved this against the Knights.
Propped by a big fourth quarter comeback, Perpetual Altas vented ire on Letran Knights in a thrilling 61-72 duel in the start of the second round of the NCAA Season 99 Men’s Basketball at FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City earlier today.
Pao Javillonar spearheaded the Knights with 14 markers, eight boards and a block.
While Deo Cuajao and Jay Garupil also helped the cause with 11 and 10, respectively.
The Altas capitalized a massive 6-24 run in the final canto against the pressure-driven Knights to hand Letran a 1-9 slate.
The Knights held the driver’s seat early with Cuajao firing three triples, listing 10 points just in the opening canto, to lead by as much as 12.
But the Altas recovered in the following quarter to trim the lead to just five points through the heroics of Art Roque who fired from all areas, 41-36.
Letran did not allow Perpetual to take over the lead as they executed sublime defense in the second half which made matters bad for the Las Piñas-based team.
With restored grit and momentum on the Altas’ side, they turned the game into their favor with an 11-0 rally to claim the lead for the first time in the match, 59-70.
Marcus Nitura churned out 17 points, backstopped by Art Roque with 16 and Jielo Razon with 13.
The Knights are looking forward to ending their losing skid as they face Mapua on October 28 also at the same venue.
The Scores:
Quarter scores: 25-16, 41-36, 55-49, 63-71.
LETRAN (63)-- Javillonar 14, Cuajao 11, Garupil 10, Ariar 7, Reyson 7, Santos 6, Monje 6, Nunag 0, Go 0, Bautista 0, Bojorcelo 0.
PERPETUAL (71)-- Nitura 17, Roque 16, Razon 13, Gelsano 10, Pagaran 8, Abis 7, Orgo 2, Nunez 0, Ferreras 0, Omega 0, Boral 0.