Letran clobbers Mapua to stay unbeaten (Sabong News)
Author
Reynald I. Magallon
Date
APRIL 08 2022
Letran’s firepower proved to be too much as it walloped one of the league’s top defensive teams in Mapua, 80-60, to keep its record unblemished in the NCAA Season 97 on Friday, April 8 at the La Salle Green Hills Gym in Mandaluyong.
The Knights bucked the injury scare of star player Rhenz Abando, the early ejection of big man Louie Sangalang, and used a second quarter onslaught that saw the defending champions pull away for good en route to a wire-to-wire victory and a 4-0 start to their title retention bid.
Jeo Ambohot posted a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds while Abando, who managed to return in the second half after tweaking his ankle at the 2:04 mark of the second quarter, still finished with 14 points and nine rebounds.
“Sobrang saya lang na nanalo kami ngayon and madadala namin ito sa mga susunod pa na game,” said Abando. “Kilala ko si coach Randy (Alcantara) di talaga siya nagpapatalo kaya dapat ready kami lagi.”
“Lahat sila (teams) nahihirapan kami, kailangan lang talaga gawin kung ano yung dapat namin gawin kasi may respeto kami sa lahat ng team dito, di naman sila sasali kung di sila lalaban,” he added.
The Cardinals, who limited their opponents under 60 points in their first three games, just couldn’t pull the stops against a very talented Knights who built a double-digit spread early in the second frame after a Kurt Reyson trey, 25-15.
King Caralipio, Paolo Javillonar and Ambohot then pounced the ball inside overpowering the smaller frontline of the Cardinals to erect a 15-point advantage at the half, 47-32.
The Knights kept their foot on the gas pedal as Abando and Christian Fajarito joined the party, unleashing a huge 10-4 run late in the third frame to establish a 63-42 lead heading to the final frame.
A late three-point barrage from Brent Paraiso gave Letran its biggest lead at 27, 73-46.
Toby Agustin was the lone bright spot and the only double-digit scorer with 14 points for Mapua which absorbed its first loss in the season after a perfect 3-0 start.
The Scores:
Letran 80 — Ambohot 16, Abando 14, Paraiso 10, JAvillonar 10, Caralipio 8, Fajarito 6, Mina 5, Reyson 5, Yu 3, Guarino 3, Olivario 0, Sangalang 0.
Mapua — Agustin 14, Pido 9, Hernandez 8, Gamboa 6, Bonifacio 6, Garcia 6, Mercado 4, Lacap 3, Milan 2, Asuncion 2, Nocum 0, Salenga 0, Sual 0.
Quarters: 20-12, 47-32, 63-42, 80-60.
