Letran Knights’ Denzil Walker and Chad Gammad made sure the San Sebastian Stags never had a chance to settle in. The pair combined for 44 points as last season’s runners-up demolished the Stags, 99-62. The win extended Letran’s unbeaten start to the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The 37-point rout moved Letran to 2-0, giving the Knights sole possession of first place in Group B, while San Sebastian dropped to 0-2 and stayed anchored at the bottom of the group. The Stags have now lost six straight games dating back to last season, having already surrendered a combined 66 points across their first two outings this year, including a 26-point defeat to Arellano on September 14.
Letran and Its Unforgiving Defense
Letran’s defense set the tone in the second quarter, forcing San Sebastian into an extended scoreless stretch that Letran turned into an 8-0 run before Khit Barroga finally broke the drought with a triple at the 4:33 mark. Titing Manalili capped the half with a layup off an inbound steal to push the lead to 22, 49-27, at the break. The Knights kept the pressure on in the third, with Manalili feeding Gammad for a reverse layup that made it 69-39, and carried a 75-47 cushion into the fourth before cruising home.
The numbers tell most of the story. Letran forced 34 turnovers and converted them into 32 points, while also piling up 30 fastbreak points to San Sebastian’s 12.
Stellar Efforts from Different Knights
Walker led all scorers with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 blocks, while Gammad added 19 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 steals. Manalili narrowly missed a double-double, finishing with 14 points and 9 assists, though he also committed 8 turnovers. Barroga paced San Sebastian with 15 points and 3 assists, and Matt Acosta chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Letran coach Allen Ricardo wasn’t entirely satisfied. “For me, I am not yet satisfied with how we performed even though we got this win,” he said. “Alam kong may mas mai-improve pa sila. Nandoon ‘yong effort … but I need more, extra effort. Kailangan pa nilang i-doble ‘yon para maging habit sa kanila.”
A Soggy Start to the Day
The blowout came only after some early weather drama at the same venue. The NCAA had postponed the day’s first game between the San Beda Red Lions and JRU Heavy Bombers after heavy rain left the court at San Juan Arena covered in condensation and standing water, forcing officials to call a halt midway through the first quarter with JRU leading 9-3. The hardwood was deemed “too moist” for safe play, and the league’s managing committee opted to protect player safety over pushing through conditions.
Both San Beda, coming off an opening loss to College of St. Benilde, and JRU, fresh off a narrow win over Mapua, will have to wait for a rescheduled date to settle that one. Conditions improved enough by evening for the Letran-San Sebastian game to proceed as originally planned.
Letran next faces the Arellano Chiefs on Monday, September 21, at 5 p.m. at Philsports Arena in Pasig, while San Sebastian takes on the Perpetual Help Altas on Tuesday, September 22, back at the San Juan venue.
