Knights find groove, outlast Cardinals in overtime for fourth straight win

Games Wednesday

(FilOil EcoOil Arena)

8:30 a.m. – SSC-R vs CSB (juniors/seniors)

2:30 p.m. – UPHSD vs EAC (seniors/juniors)

MANILA, Philippines — Better late than never.

After starting slow, Letran has finally lived up to preseason hype as a legitimate title contender after racking four wins in a row, including an 85-82 overtime victory over last year’s titlist Mapua Tuesday in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Jimboy Estrada and Titing Manalili came through in the clutch to help the Knights seal their fourth straight victory in Group B that had somehow erased the stigma of a disappointing 0-3 start that cast doubts on their championship legitimacy.

Estrada poured in five of his 20 points in overtime, while Manalili hit a pair of huge foul shots late in regulation to send the duel into extra time.

Manalili, a sensational rookie that came from the pontifical school’s high school program, was quick to urge his team to stay grounded.

“I kept reminding them that we may have won now, but this is already finished and we have to move on to our next opponent,” said Manilili, who flirted with another triple-double effort before ending up with 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds.

“It doesn’t end here, this will not decide if we will be champions,” he added.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the Cardinals, who had several opportunities to turn things around in its favor.

Clint Escamis, on his final tour of duty before turning pro, missed a potential game-winning shot in the dying seconds of regulation and muffed two of three free throws in the crucial stretch of OT that would have tilted the game on their side had he sunk it.

Mapua dropped to 3-3.

The scores:

Letran 85 – Estrada 20, Santos 17, Buensalida 16, Manalili 14, Cuajao 9, Omega 4, Gammad 3, Rosilio 2, Yusi 0, Gazzingan 0.

Mapua 82 – Nitura 19, Gonzales 17, Escamis 14, Cuenco 10, Sapasap 9, Delos Reyes 7, Recto 4, Concepcion 2, Igliane 0, Lazarte 0, Gulapa 0.

Quarterscores: 25-12; 41-38; 53-62; 78-78 (OT) 85-82