By: Rylie San Juan
Photo courtesy of Augusto Urbano II | The LANCE
Jonathan Manalili led Letran in scoring, tallying 15 points with seven dimes and six rebounds. Kevin Santos chimed in with 14 points, while Jun Roque contributed 12.
Coach Allen Ricardo brought out the big guns right away, sending his five best players to open the first quarter. It proved effective as the Knights took the lead early on with Manalili’s pinpoint passing, Roque’s deep threes, and Jimboy Estrada’s signature mid-range shot carried Letran’s offense all throughout the first. By the end of the quarter, Letran led the game by five.
In the second quarter, San Beda began to tighten their defense on Letran while also scoring on the other end. By the 3:00 mark, the Red Lions took the lead courtesy of a three pointer from Anfernee Estacio.
It was Estrada who kept the fire burning for Letran. His pesky defense gave San Beda all sorts of problems, while also being the offensive spark that Letran needed to reclaim the lead. As Halftime came, the Knights were able to cling to a two point advantage, 39-37.
It was too close for comfort for the Knights in the third quarter; the lead change went back and forth while San Beda’s marksmen began to heat up. Back-to-back threes from Yukien Andrada and John Sajonia placed the Red Lions ahead once again.
The Knights were on a dry spell late in the third. Shots failed to reach the bottom of the net while San Beda continued to torture Letran on the defensive end. As the quarter concluded, the Red Lions took a commanding 12 point lead, 53-65.
Letran began to chip away at the lead early in the fourth. The efficient shooting of Roque and Estrada, along with Manalili’s ability to draw fouls, provided a window for the Knights to bounce back.
The red hot shooting of Nygel Gonzales and Andrada terrorized Letran’s defense as the Knights were unable to contain the scoring of the duo. The pair was able to keep Letran at a distance for the majority of the quarter.
Deo Cuajao drilled a much needed three to cut San Beda’s lead to four, however it was quickly answered by Sajonia, hitting a three pointer of his own.
As the clock winded down, the Knights were unable to close the gap, ultimately falling to the Red Lions 71-83.
Andrada ended the game with 21 points, along with five rebounds and three assists. While Sajonia tallied 21 of his own, paired with nine rebounds and two assists.