MANILA – From a winless start to a roaring resurgence, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights have transformed into one of the hottest teams in the NCAA. The defending runners-up notched their fourth straight victory after edging out reigning champion Mapua University Cardinals, 85-82, in a thriller on Tuesday at the Playtime FilOil Center in San Juan.
Once written off after an 0-3 start, the Knights showed poise under pressure as Johnsherick Estrada and Jonathan Manalili delivered in the clutch to overturn a late deficit.
Down 78-81 with three minutes left, Estrada completed a three-point play to tie the game before Manalili nailed a go-ahead basket for an 83-81 lead. Mapua had a chance to regain control, but Clint Escamis converted only one of three free throws, allowing Estrada to ice the match with two charities in the dying seconds.
Estrada led Letran with 20 points, while Kevin Santos added 17. Manalili and Aaron Buensalida each recorded double-doubles—Manalili with 14 points and 10 assists, Buensalida with 16 points and 10 rebounds—as Letran improved to 4-3 after a disastrous opening stretch.
Cyrus Nitura paced the Cardinals with 19 points, while Cyril Gonzales added 17. Escamis and Mark Cuenco chipped in 14 and 10, respectively, as Mapua slipped to 3-3.
In another close contest, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates finally broke into the win column after a come-from-behind 78-76 triumph over the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers.
Renz Villegas sparked the Pirates’ late surge with a three-point play, followed by a triple from John Barba, a layup from Joshua Moralejo, and another trey by Jonathan Daileg that turned a 66-71 deficit into a 77-71 advantage.
Barba led Lyceum with 15 points, followed by Villegas with 14, Daileg with 11, and Michael Verzosa with 10, as the Pirates improved to 1-5. JRU’s Shawn Argente exploded for 26 points in a losing effort, hitting six triples, while teammates Stephen Garupil and Justin Lozano added 17 and 12, respectively. The Heavy Bombers dropped to 3-4./PN
