NCAA: Sans Manalili, Letran puts a stop to JRU’s winning streak

MANILA — Even without its star guard, Letran still had enough on Thursday to escape with a 70-66 win over Jose Rizal University at the San Juan Arena.

The Knights were playing without main man Titing Manalili but still managed to put an end to the Heavy Bombers’ four-game winning streak and improve to 5-3 in Group B of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament. 

“Sa’min naman, ‘di namin ginawang reason ‘yong wala si Jonathan (Manalili), nagstep-up ‘yong mga kasama namin, lahat, kahit ‘yong [mga] nasa bench,” Aaron Buensalida said.

JRU held a slim one-point lead over the Knights in the payoff period, 58-57, before Letran went on a pivotal 6-1 blitz capped off by a Denzil Walker short stab to gave his squad a 64-58 lead with 5:31 left in the game.

The Heavy Bombers got within striking distance late in the game, cutting their deficit to two, 67-65, after a Jay Garupil bucket at the 3:03 mark of the period.

But the breaks of the game went Letran’s way late, as Nat Montecillo split his free-throw line trip to give the Knights a 68-65 lead with 17 ticks to go. A Chris Hubilla three-pointer with a second left was off the mark, and the Heavy Bombers dropped to 6-2 in Group A.

Chad Gammad top scored for Letran with 21 points built on four buckets from beyond the arc. Walker scored 11 while Kevin Santos turned in 10 markers in the win.

Mangubat finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double with 18 points and eight boards in the defeat. Sean Salvador also chipped in 11 markers for JRU.

CSJL 70 – Gammad 21, Walker 11, Santos 10, Buensalida 8, Montecillo 8, Cargo 5, Reyes 3, Estrada 2, Hugo 2, Villanueva 0

JRU 66 – Mangubat 18, Salvador 11, Garupil 8, Panapanaan 6, Hubilla 5, Eligado 4, Penaverde 3, Duque 3, Garcia 2, Palis 2, Masiglat 2, Laurenaria 2, Herrera 0

Quarter scores: 20-19, 41-33, 54-52, 70-66