George Diamante went on a second half tear as he powered Letran to an 86-69 victory over previously unbeaten Mapua on Friday and back into back-to-back title contention in NCAA Season 99 junior basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.
The 6’5” co-Defensive Player of the Year a season ago erupted for 28 points, 21 of which came in the second half when the Squires turned a one-point halftime deficit into their fourth victory in five outings.
It was also Diamante, who sparked that dizzying blitz unleashed by the reigning champions in the third quarter when they outscored the Red Robins, 28-13, which included 10 from Letran’s athletic big.
He completed his strong performance with 13 rebounds, five assists, a steal and a block.
It came just a couple of days after he dropped a blistering 21-point, 16-carom, eight-dime, four-steal and one-block masterpiece in an 88-79 triumph over Lyceum of the Philippines U.
Mapua absorbed its first defeat after four wins in a row.
In the second game, San Beda shut down College of St. Benilde in the final minute and a half to snatch a gripping 64-62 victory, the former’s third in five outings.
Down by two points, the Red Cubs threw the defensive anvil on the Junior Blazers and held them to just a point while scoring five points in that pivotal stretch courtesy of a three-point play by Drei Lorenzo and a pair of dagger charities by Hendric Vailoces.
CSB slipped to 1-4.
The scores:
First Game
Letran 86- Diamante 26, Manalili 14, Silorio 13, Baliling 11, Gazzingan 10, Navarro 7, De Leon 4, Padilla 1, Golez 0, Villanueva 0, Hugo 0, Cruz 0
Mapua 69- Mangubat 18, Valina 15, Mulintapang 8, Salvador 5, Rodriguez 4, Gragasin 4, Masiglat 4, Go 4, Palis 2, Mananquil 2, Bagro 2, Bernabe 1, Duque 0, Malaga 0, Coronel 0
Quarterscores: 16-20; 35-36; 63-49; 86-69
Second Game
San Beda 64- Lorenzo 15, Vailoces 13, Dollente 10, Batong Bakal 6, Mercado 6, San Juan 5, Canete 3, Wagan 3, Medroso 3, Mondigo 0, Jomalesa 0, Solano 0
CSB 62- Quines 23, Podador 14, Sharma 6, Gomez 6, Muyuela 3, Natividad 3, Ortega 2, Nonoy 2, Osis 2, Ison 1, Peralta 0, Abad 0
Quarterscores: 15-20; 26-36; 48-43; 64-62