The Letran Knights edges out the UE Red Warriors in a fierce bout. Photo courtesy of Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup.
The Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights pulled through when it mattered most in the win against the UE Red Warriors, 73-70, in the Pinoyliga Collegiate Cup Season 3 at Enderun Colleges in Taguig this Wednesday morning.
Luis Tapenio followed up his 13-point outing against OLFU with a 27-point outburst on 9/10 shooting from the field with six rebounds, and two assists, backed by James Pradela who had 13 markers and seven boards while Joco Bojorcelo also chipped eight of his own.
With the lead going back and forth in the final minute of the game, Peter Rosillo drove into the paint trying to get a clean look and kicked it out to a wide-open Pradela on the right wing for a cold-blooded trey that allowed them to retake the lead and secured the victory as Ethan Galang’s attempt at a game-winner rimmed out for the Red Warriors.
The two squads put an emphasis on attacking the rim in the first half as they traded baskets but a late bucket from beyond the arc by Keian Spandonis gave UE a two-point cushion at the break, 33-35.
Welo Lingolingo took over the match as he dropped 14 of his 21 points to push the lead further and further from the Knights growing to as big as 13 in the early stretches of the fourth frame.
However, Letran ceased to back down going on a 12-0 run led by Tapenio to trim the margin, Galang tried to halt their momentum with a three but the Knights kept up the pressure leading to a Bojorcelo’s jumper from deep to steal the advantage.
Both teams went on a dry spell as neither could get a shot go through until Lingolingo drew a foul with 1:45 left on the clock sinking two of his three attempts, a few plays later Jack Cruz-dumont scored in the paint helping UE take command yet again.
In the dying seconds, Rosillo hit a floater over the towering defenders of the Red Warriors only to commit a foul on Daryll Robles who sunk his own set of shots from the stripe, yet in the end it was Tapenio who placed the finishing touches with a free throw after rebounding the Galang miss.
Along with Lingolingo’s scoring, Rainer Maga and Galang also carved out 11 and 10, respectively, in the losing effort.
With this win, the Knights maintain their spot in the play-in tournament with a 4-4 record as they bid for a quarterfinals spot in their following game to be announced through the Pinoyliga Cup facebook page
Quarter Scores: 16-16, 33-35, 48-57, 73-70
LETRAN (73) – Tapenio 27, Pradela 14, Bojorcelo 8, Nunag 5, Brillantes 4, Cuya 3, Garupil 3, Rosillo 3, Alarcon 2, Jumao-as 2, Tangkay 2, Baliling 0, Galoy 0, Napalang 0
UE (70) – Lingolingo 21, Maga 11, Galang 10, Spandonis 8, Obusan 6, Robles 6, Cruz-dumont 5, Go 2, Malanga 1, Alao 0, Dalisay 0, Fong 0, Mahilum 0, Niric 0, Pancheco 0