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Knights ride on 73-62 win atop tough defense, Jazul
Source : Staff   
Saturday, 12 July 2008 10:57

Letran College came into Friday’s game with a winning formula -- play tough defense and go to RJ Jazul in the clutch.

Brandishing these weapons to perfection, the Knights bludgeoned the already bleeding Philippine Christian U Dolphins, 73-62, to jump from a share of first with the San Beda Red Lions to the solo lead in Season 84 of the NCAA basketball tournament at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Jazul blowtorched the opposition with 20 points including six in the second quarter when the Muralla-based dribblers erected a double-digit separation and seven in the final canto that doused cold water to the Blazers’ last gasp fight back.

The 22-year-old Pasay City native’s superb scoring came a week after he unleashed a season and personal high 37-point explosion in an emphatic 88-75 victory over College of St. Benilde.

While Jazul did his thing on the offensive end, Letran’s defense got the job done on the other side.

The Big D that won the Knights four championships in the last decade punished PCU’s Big Three -- Beau Belga, Lisztian Amparado and Leimar Navarro -- so much that troika had to bleed for their points.

The three could only score 20 points combined, way, way behind their usual norms ranging in the double digits.

"I keep telling the players to play tough defense particularly on these three," said Letran coach Louie Alas referring to Belga, Amparado and Navarro.

Not even the street smarts of Belga, who sharpened his play by suiting for many-time PBL champion Harbour Centre, could save PCU from absorbing a fourth loss in row.

"We know Belga is street smart and he’d be bringing the ball again all game. That’s why I told my big guys to sacrifice in making life difficult for him," said Alas.

Mapua Tech 63, St. Benilde 57

Nothing, not even MVP Kelvin dela Pena’s off day, could prevent Mapua Tech from dishing out its best.

Rookie Allan Mangahas and Teegee Guillermo came through when dela Pena struggled as the Cardinals brushed back the Blazers, 63-57, to notch their fourth straight win in five outings.

Mangahas, who played high school ball for PCU High, sizzled with 17 points he highlighted with seven huge points in the last period while Guillermo chipped in 14 in a pair of superb performances that impressed their coach.

"They stepped up big," said Mapua Tech mentor Leo Isaac.

Dela Pena actually didn’t play that bad as he finished with eight rebounds, four assists and four steals to make up for a lethargic seven-point output.

It was the Blazers third straight setback after pulling off two head-turning wins early in the tournament.
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