Knights snap 3-game slide, mangle Chiefs for slice of fourth

By Ricky Manliguis

SAN JUAN -- Letran staved off a late uprising by Arellano to score an 84-73 win to get back on the winning track in Tuesday’s NCAA Season 93 seniors’ basketball action at the FilOil Flying V Centre.

Behind the steady plays of JP Calvo and Bong Quinto, the Muralla-based dribblers thus snapped its three-game losing skid and tie Emilio Aguinaldo College for fourth place in the team standings with a 6-6 win-loss record.

The Knights actually had a 79-65 lead in the last two minutes, but the Chiefs mounted an 8-0 salvo to come within 79-73 with less than a minute to go.

Marwin Taywan was slapped for an unsportsmanlike foul that proved to be a blow to AU’s run. Rey Nambatac then split his charities before Calvo pocketed in a wide-open three for the victory.

The win was a perfect birthday gift for Letran coach Jeff Napa as Quinto scored a double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Calvo also had 20 plus five assists.

Nambatac ended the game with a 14-point, eight-rebound performance.

The Chiefs’ loss was a blow to its playoff ambitions as it slid to seveth place with a 4-8 record. Kent Salado cashed in 23 points, five boards and four assists, while Rence Alcoriza was the other double-digit scorer with 10.

THE SCORES

Letran 84 -- Calvo 20, Quinto 20, Nambatac 14, Balanza 8, Mandreza 8, Gedaria 4, Vacaro 4, Taladua 4, Balagasay 2, Bernabe 0

Arellano 73 -- Salado 23, Alcoriza 10, Flores 7, Dela Cruz 7, Meca 6, Taywan 6, Canete 5, Concepcion 3, Abanes 3, Nicholls 2, Villoria 1, Enriquez 0

Quarter scores: 26-20, 45-36, 68-59, 84-73

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