Panaligan treys lift Lions past Knights in NC South

MANILA, Philippines - James Panaligan hit three clutch triples as San Beda College Alabang foiled Colegio San Juan de Letran-Calamba, 78-69, to gain the solo lead in the 13th NCAA seniors basketball tournament at the SBCA Sports Complex in Alabang over the weekend.

The 22-year-old Panaligan drilled in three straight treys as the hosts defused the Knights’ torrid fourth-quarter rally and clinched their third straight victory.

Panaligan finished with 21 points while Reynaldo Estanislao and Kevin Mangutac added 20 and 13 points, respectively.

Letran fell to 0-2.

Defending champion University of Perpetual Help-Laguna whipped Philippine Christian University-Dasmariñas, 101-65, as the Saints remained tied with the Lions in the tournament sponsored by Chocolate Clothing, Philips Avent, Goody and Chefs Classics.

The joint leaders dispute the solo lead Thursday.

The Lions looked headed for a trouble-free win as they surged to 44-26 lead at the turn.

But the Knights worked their way back into the game and moved within four, 60-64, but Panaligan came through with timely triples midway in the fourth.

Aldrin Bartolome led the Knights with 20 points while Kenneth Fernandez and Jim Go 15 added 18 and 15 points, respectively.

In other seniors matches, Faith Institute of Technology and Humanities-Tanauan tripped Lyceum University-Batangas, 73-66, while University of Batangas dumped La

Salle-Lipa, 78-67.

Faith made it a double victory by routing Lyceum, 75-55, in juniors action but La Salle-Lipa turned backed the Baby Brahmans, 78-59.