Letran Knights whip CSB Blazers; Mapua Cardinals end slump

MANILA—Letran showed there’s more to its offense than Kevin Alas as the Knights rolled to a 112-91 rout of St. Benilde to claim solo third in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Alas pumped in 19 points but big men Jam Cortes and Jonathan Belorio also logged huge numbers for the Knights, who rebounded from their first loss and improved to 4-1.

Mapua ended its winless run with a runaway 80-67 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College earlier.

The preseason pick Cardinals snapped their four-game losing skid with Allan Mangahas and Josan Nimes teaming up for 31 points.

“We felt relieved,” said coach Chito Victolero after his Cardinals tied the Blazers and two other teams at 1-4. “We struggled in our first four games, particularly in the endgame.”

Alas completed his all-around game for the Knights with six assists and five rebounds.

Cortes had a double-double of 19 points and 12 boards, while Belorio also stepped up with 18 markers and eight rebounds.

Letran coach Louie Alas said, however, that he continued to put emphasis on defense.

“We gave up too many points, so I told the boys that it’s still defense that will win us games,” said the elder Alas.

The Knights posted the most number of points in regulation in recent years. In 2009, St. Benilde shot 117 points, but it came in triple overtime versus Arellano.

Alas’ other son, Junjun, got ejected at the 6:18-minute mark in the second quarter after incurring two flagrant fouls.

The Generals, who dropped to 2-2, played minus suspended team leader Claude Cubo.

Cubo, who posted 16 points and 10 rebounds in his last outing, served a one-game ban for punching Lyceum’s Onofre Napiza.

Jonathan Grey delivered a personal-best 23 points, six boards, two assists and a couple of steals for the Blazers.

The scores:

First Game
LETRAN 112—Alas K. 19, Cortes 19, Belorio 18, Cruz 10, Espiritu 9, Mendoza 8, Gabawan 7, Almazan 6, Dysam 6, Alas J. 3, Racal 3, Lituania 2, Pantin 2, Gabriel 0, Cudal 0.

ST. BENILDE 91—Grey 23, Lastimosa 17, Taha 16, Romero 14, Tan 7, Sinco 5, Deles 3, McCoy 3, Dela Paz 2, Musngi 1, Altamirano 0, Carlos 0, De Guzman 0, Nayve 0, Pate 0.

Quarters: 31-23, 55-49, 80-70, 112-91

Second Game
MAPUA 80—Mangahas 16, Nimes 15, Sarangay 10, Ighalo 9, Ranises 9, Ighalo 9, Banal 7, Pascual 7, Taha 6, Stevens 1, Cantos 0, Maniego 0, Parala 0.

EAC 63—Jamon 18, Paguia 11, Vargas 11, Torralba 6, Diolanto 4, King 4, Yaya 4, Chiong 3, Sanchez 2, Morada 0, Villegas 0.

Quarters: 18-14, 48-35, 64-51, 80-63