Brent Paraiso struck with 25 points as the defending champion Letran Knights halted a rally and stopped the St. Benilde College Blazers from scoring twice in the final minute to escape with an 81-75 triumph on Friday in the 98th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Eco Arena in San Juan.
The 6’2” Paraiso was limited to just a point in the final period, but his brilliance majority of the way helped the Knights bounce back with their second win in three games.
Will Gozum showed the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Blazers, who absorbed their first loss in four matches and dropped to a share of the lead with the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates.
The Knights were ahead in the last 6:27, 76-66, off King Caralipio’s layup, but the the Blazers fought back.
Miguel Corteza knocked in 18 points, including a jumper, which along with JC Cullar’s triple in the final 5:22, triggered CSB’s comeback and allowed them to move within range, 73-77.
It was Gozum’s layup in the final 4:11, which allowed the Blazers to threaten by four.
The Blazers failed to move ahead from there after Cullar bungled a triple and Louie Sangalang blocked an attempt by Gozum in the remaining 25 seconds, allowing the Knights to keep the ball in their possession.
“I challenged them, telling them not to let the situation we had when we lost to Arellano happen again. We were up by four, we lost the lead and they (Arellano) won,” said Letran coach Bonnie Tan, as the Knights bounced back from their 69-72 setback to the Arellano Chiefs.
Fran Yu shot 12 points, including a layup in the last 53 seconds allowing the Knights to nurse a four-point edge at the 53-second mark, 79-75.
Paolo Javillonar and Kobe Monje sank 10 points for the Knights, who will seek their second straight triumph in their encounter with the Mapua Cardinals on Tuesday.
The scores:
First Game
Letran (81) — Paraiso 25, Yu 12, Javillonar 10, Monje 10, Caralipio 8, Reyson 6, Santos 6, Sangalang 4, Ariar 0, Olivario 0, Bautista 0.
Benilde (75) — Gozum 23, Corteza 18, Nayve 10, Lepalam 10, Cullar 7, Sangco 4, Pasturan 2, Flores 1, Marcos 0, Carlos 0, Dimayuga 0.
Quarterscores: 25-23, 50-46, 71-62, 81-75.