NCAA: Strong start powers Letran to victory

Letran used a strong start and leaned on Kristoffer Alas’ game-long brilliance to score a 70-54 win over the St. Benilde in the 86th NCAA men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at The Arena in San Juan City.

The defense-minded Alas, who stepped up in the absence of his younger brother Kevin, scattered 15 points spiked by 13 rebounds as the Knights snapped a two-game slide for a 2-4 win-loss record. The Blazers, after a 70-64 win over Arellano on July 5, dropped four straight games falling to a 1-4 card and join idle EAC from seventh to eight spots. "I have to give credit where credit is due and he really played well," said Letran coach Louie Alas referring to the eldest of his son. Kevin, the offense-minded between the two brothers, sat out his second straight game due to a left knee contusion he suffered during Letran’s game against San Beda on July 21. The Knights held the Blazers to nine points while scoring 21 in the third to enter the final period enjoying a 57-37 spread. St. Benilde had a mini scoring run to trim the deficit to 13, 57-44, with 6:21 left in the game. But JP Belencion buried a three-pointer and Victor Espiritu added two more points to cut short CSB’s comeback bid. The Knights were never threatened after that. – JVP, GMANews.TV