Letran sends Perpetual crashing

Letran College rediscovered its deadly form to deal University of Perpetual Help System Dalta its first loss with a 63-56 decision in Season 101 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

Jimboy Estrada was impressive while the rest of the Knights did a good job containing the offensive production of Mark Gojo Cruz and Patrick Sleat to clinch their second win in five games.

Earlier, rookie Sean Salvador erupted for 22 points to lift Jose Rizal University to a 59-46 win over struggling San Sebastian College.

Salvador, a former Mapua Red Robins standout, stepped up to fill the void created by the absence of veteran guard Shawn Argente, who was serving a one-game suspension after he was ejected last Sunday in their 65-73 loss to College of Saint Benilde.

“I reminded our players that we are already smaller than our opponents. We can’t let ourselves get out-hustled,” said Heavy Bombers head coach Nani Epondulan, whose wards improved to 3-2 in Group A of the preliminaries of the country’s oldest collegiate league.

“If there is anyone who is hungrier and more aggressive, it should be us.”

Meanwhile, Estrada scattered 23 points on top of eight rebounds, three assists and three steals to snap the four-game run of the Altas.

Letran coach Allen Ricardo said they played their hearts out, knowing that this is the only time that they will face Perpetual in the preliminaries under the new format.

“I just told them there’s no tomorrow since this will be the only time we will face them in the eliminations. This is the best time to redeem ourselves and catch up in the group standings,” said Ricardo, whose wards did a solid defensive job on the Altas gunners.

“Perpetual’s heart and soul are Gojo Cruz and Sleat. If we could limit Sleat by 16 points and below, we have a chance to win.”

Despite limiting Sleat and Gojo Cruz to 16 and 10 points, respectively, Letran had to dig deep in the fourth quarter to secure the important victory.

Trailing 53-59 with 1:17 left, Shawn Orgo drained a three-pointer to help the Altas cut the deficit to three. But Jonathan Manalili and Estrada refused to get rattled as they knocked down their free throws to seal the victory.

Deo Cuajao supported Estrada with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting to help spoil the Altas’ finest start in a decade with four consecutive victories.