Knights nip Bombers in OT

Defending champion Letran struggled past Jose Rizal University yesterday, needing an extra period, and lots of guts, to pull off a thrilling 87-84 victory and gain a share of the lead with idle University of Perpetual Help Dalta System in the 80th NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The Knights also cashed in on the breaks in the clutch to finally subdue the stubborn Heavy Bombers and secure their sixth victory in nine games while dealing their victims their sixth setback against three victories.

Letran played without starting center Jonathan Pinera, but the rest of the Knights stepped up to carry the cudgels for the team against a surprisingly tough JRU side, which stuck it up in the closing minutes of the last quarter and in extra frame despite losing three key players.

In the other seniors game, San Sebastian College-Recoletos repulsed cellar-dweller College of St. Benilde, 82-77.

JRU lost top playmaker Wynsjohn Te due to a sprained knee midway in the third quarter, reserve forward Raymond Jorge to back spasms just before halftime, and starting center Kenneth Coyukang to a suspected MCL (medial cruciate ligament) at the start of the final quarter.

Still, the Heavy Bombers refused to give up with Jenciano Domangcas and Edward Attunaga coming through with big plays for JRU down the stretch and helping the team to keep abreast with the Knights.

After JRU coach Cris Calilan’s wards uncorked an 8-0 run bridging the third and fourth quarters to gain the upperhand at 63-56 with 9:41 left in regulation, Coyukang slipped, sustaining the knee injury and further hampering the Bombers’ chances to complete their upset bid.

Taking the cue, slotman Frederick Rodriguez quickly took over for Letran, scoring eight of the Knights’ next 12 points and powering the team to a 70-69 lead, 4:42 left in the contest.

Both teams traded baskets from then on, and after a split charity by Domangcas gave JRU a 77-76 cushion with 21 seconds left, Boyet Bautista scored on a putback with three seconds to go to make it 78-77 for Letran. But Attunaga converted one of his free throws to send the game into overtime.

Although Attunaga’s triple keyed the Bombers’ big start in overtime play, the Knights never got discouraged and worked the ball inside to 6-foot-7 Mark Andaya, who scored five crucial points in the closing minutes against a Coyukang-less JRU frontline.

"We won because the team played consistent basketball," said Letran coach Louie Alas. "If not for the team’s character, we could’ve lost the game."

Bautista finished with 19 points, leading four other Knights in double figures. Andaya and Rodriguez combined for 31 points, while Ronjay Enrile and John Paul Alcaraz added 11 and 10, respectively, for Letran.

Domangcas and Attunaga had 15 points each for the Bombers. — Nathan Lee