Knights clip Altas

Games Sunday:

(Filoil EcoOil Centre)

12 p.m. — Lyceum vs San Sebastian

3 p.m. — Saint Benilde vs San Beda

Defending champion Letran College scored a 70-67 win over a fighting Perpetual Help System Dalta side in the Season 98 National Collegiate Athletic Association men's basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan on Saturday.

The Knights appeared headed to a trouble-free finish when it led, 70-64, under a minute to go but Jielo Razon sank a trey to put the Altas back into the groove.

Letran could not settle the issue after being threatened and even gave Perpetual a chance to send the game into extra period but Razon missed a triple try, allowing the Knights to post their 5-3.

The loss dropped the Altas ledger to 4-4.

Brent Paraiso and Fran Yu drilled in 13 points apiece to lead Letran.

"We just have to keep our composure in the game. Perpetual might have got some good shots but we got to get a big lead early on," Letran head coach Bonnie Tan said.

Jielo Razon led the Altas with 22 points.

Meanwhile, Warren Bonifacio's double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds gave Mapua its first win as the Cardinals dumped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 67-55, in the first game.

Cardinals gunner Paolo Hernandez also added 12 as they finally snapped a 10-game losing streak stretching back to the previous season.

The losing skid could have ended last month but Mapua's opening day 66-55 victory over San Beda was forfeited after the discovery of an ineligible player in the Cards roster.

The Scores:

First game

MAPUA (67) — Bonifacio 16, Hernandez 12, Nocum 11, Garcia 10, Pido 6, Cuenco 5, Salenga 4, Soriano 2, Parinas 1, Igliane 0, Mercado 0, Lacap 0.

EAC (55) — Liwag 22, Maguliano 11, Robin 10, Tolentino 5, Bajon 3, Luciano 1, Gurtiza 1, An. Doria 1, Cosa 1, Umpad 0, Balowa 0.

QUARTERS: 15-16, 35-27, 51-42, 67-55.

Second game

LETRAN (70) — Paraiso 13, Yu 13, Sangalang 12, Caralipio 6, Reyson 6, Javillonar 5, Ariar 4, Santos 3, Monje 3, Olivario 3, Bojorcelo 2, Miclat 0, Guarino 0.

PERPETUAL (67) — Razon 20, Aurin 13, Nitura 8, Abis 7, Barcuma 6, Ferreras 3, Roque 3, Omega 2, Boral 2, Egan 2, Martel 1, Cuevas 0, Flores 0, Nunez 0.

QUARTERS: 21-14, 36-34, 52-55, 70-67.