CEBUANO center Jomari Sollano flirted with a double-double as he tallied 16 points and nine rebounds to help the defending champions Letran Knights score a 56-52 win over the St. Benilde Blazers in the 92nd NCAA Men’s basketball tournament.
Sollano, a former ace of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation who ended up being the hero in their title-clinching victory over San Beda in the finals last year, conspired with Bong Quinto and JP Calvo, who made the telling, plays down the stretch to seal the win.
Letran seemed on the verge of a breakaway win as they led, 39-21, in the third, but St. Benilde fought their way back to 50-54, with 34 ticks remaining.
But the Quinto to Calvo connection doomed the Blazers for their second straight loss.
Letran improved to 2-1 for the season. Calvo and Quinto had 11 points each.