Letran pulverizes skidding Benilde

Letran pulverizes skidding Benilde

With 4:54 left in the game and Letran leading 57-44, the College of Saint Benilde Blazers’ Jan Tan pulled down the defensive board and passed the ball to teammate Mac Abolucion. Except the Abolucion was already looking up to see if he could throw a quick strike.

The ball sailed out of bounds and the Knights, upon inbounding the ball worked it to Jaypee Belencion who swished a triple 60-44 for Letran.

On Benilde’s next possession, Veejay Espiritu stole Abolucion’s lazy pass and streaked home for an uncontested layup. CSB head coach Richard del Rosario could only shake his head in dismay as his team self-destructed.

It was that kind of an afternoon for the Blazers who turned over the ball 26 times of which Letran took advantage for 18 points. The Knights actually threw the ball away 27 times but Benilde was unable to capitalize on anything as Letran came away with a 70-54 victory.

“Kung aasa kami sa offense namin eh walang mangyayari so sabi ko sa mga bata na gamitin yung pressure defense.

Letran’s lead climbed to a high of 22 points at 57-35 in the dying seconds of the third. Jun Jun Alas, the coach’s oldest son, scored 15 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead Letran to its second win in six games while arresting a two-game slide. “Ayoko muna isipin yung Final Four. Ngayon one game at a time lang kami,” pronounced a relieved Alas.

Jam Cortes added 12 points while Belencion and Franz Dysam added 11 and 10 respectively.

The Blazers only had one player – Carlo Lastimosa – in double figures. The first-year guard scored 13 points but was 5-13 from the field.