NCAA teams make headway in Fr. Martin's Cup Summer League play

Fr. Martin's Cup Summer League action resumed today.

The Letran Knights got themselves on the winning track in the Fr. Martin's Cup Summer League play, as they dispatched National University, 83-82.

Off a timeout after Patrick Yu split his free throws to establish an 81-79 lead with 7.3 seconds remaining, Kobe Monje received the inbound pass at the right wing and then nailed a triple with under five seconds remaining to wrest the lead for the Knights.

Letran had led by as much as thirteen points at 48-35 in the third quarter, before the Bulldogs chipped away at the deficit until they finally took the lead at 66-65 in the final period off a breakaway slam from Adama Faye.

Nico Abatayo would convert on a fastbreak to establish an 80-77 lead with 89 seconds left, but Monje converted a miss from Kenny Rocacurba to cut that deficit to 80-79 with eighteen seconds left, setting up the situation for the final two scoring sequences.

Monje would finish with seventeen points, while Allen Mina led Letran in scoring with 23 points. Mina led the outside shooting barrage for the Knights, converting four of the team's twelve triples.

Abatayo led NU with sixteen points while adding three rebounds and three assists. Mansour Jeno added ten markers for the Bulldogs.

The second match scheduled saw the University of Perpetual Help Dalta System snap up their second win in the tournament, defeating Treston International College, 88-70.

A huge third quarter allowed the Altas to break away against the Golden Lions, with Luke Sese's triple allowing them to establish a 66-50 lead heading into the final period.

From then on, it was smooth sailing for the Frankie Lim-coached squad, keeping themselves undefeated.

Jielo Razon led Perpetual with 21 points, with his drives netting nine conversions off the free throw line. San Beda transfer Bem Adamos added twelve points and nine rebounds.

Eugene Tan led Treston with 21 points.

Also undefeated in the seniors division is Arellano University. The Chiefs secured their third straight victory with a come-from-behind 78-73 victory over La Consolacion College-Manila.

LCC-M rode on a strong 15-2 start to the game, but Arellano managed to catch up by the middle of the second quarter, tying the game at 30 and turning it into a close encounter between both squads.

A top-of-the-key triple from Kent Segura sealed the victory for Arellano, toting a 74-67 lead with a couple of minutes remaining, with free throws from Daryl Bayla adding insurance.

Bayla would finish with twelve points, while Rence Alcoriza led the Chiefs with fifteen markers. The Blue Royals relied on Jesse Bardaje, who led the team with fifteen points and three steals.

The 25th Fr. Martin's Cup Summer League is presented by Resorts World Manila, the Bedans Batch 62-66, and Cocolife.