Fran Yu delivered the killer blows late in the payoff period as Letran frustrated the hard-fighting Emilio Aguinaldo College, 83-62, in the NCAA Season 97 at the La Salle Green Hills Gym on Wednesday, April 20.
Quiet all game long with just two points across his name, Yu took charge and sank three triples inside the final three minutes of the game as the Knights slammed the door on the Generals' comeback hopes after cutting the lead down to single digit after trailing by as many as 24 points earlier in the contest.
The nine-point spurt from the Season 95 Finals MVP was part of Letran’s back-breaking 15-0 run to close out the game en route to its sixth straight win in as many games and join rival San Beda atop the standings.
Just like the Red Lions, the Knights also secured their play-in ticket with the win and could move closer to a Final Four berth with a victory against the lowly Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers in their next game.
Yu finished with 11 points on top of five rebounds and four assists while Bren Paraiso and Kurt Reyson combined for seven of the 12 Knights three pointers to scatter 15 points each.
Rhenz Abando remained solid with 14 markers, six boards and two blocks – both against Nat Cosejo, first on the latter’s dunk attempt late in the third and the second to put a stop to the Generals run in the fourth quarter.
Letran played beautiful music on both ends of the floor in the first half to build a commanding 44-25 lead at the break. The Knights continued to put on a clinic against the Generals to stretch the lead to 62-39.
The Generals though refused to go down without a fight they embarked on an inspired 18-5 rally in the payoff period to threaten the defending champions, 68-62. A Louie Sangalang layup then triggered the run as Yu nailed his first trey in the next possession.
Jeo Ambohot scored on a pick-and-roll before Yu nailed his last two triples to cap the run.
Cosejo paced the Generals with 13 points while JP Maguliano added 11. Their efforts however went down the drain as they slid down to a 3-4 win-loss record in the standings.
The Scores:
LETRAN 83 -- Paraiso 15, Reyson 15, Abando 14, Yu 11, Ambohot 9, Mina 9, Sangalang 6, Caralipio 4, Fajarito 0, Olivario 0, Javillonar 0, Lantaya 0, Guarino 0, Tolentino 0, Ariar 0.
EAC 62 -- Cosejo 13, Maguliano 11, Robin 10, Liwag 8, Taywan 7, Bunyi 5, Luciano 4, Gurtiza 4, Cadua 0, Fuentes 0, An. Doria 0, Ad. Doria 0, Cosa 0, Umpad 0. Quarters: 23-12, 44-25, 63-44, 83-62.