LETRAN got off to a strong start but needed a much stronger finish in repulsing University of Perpetual Help, 74-66, to gain a share of the lead in the mad race for the Final Four in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

It was the Knights’ eighth victory in 11 matches, putting them in a three-way tie with the idle Jose Rizal University (JRU) Heavy Bombers and back-to-back defending champion San Beda Red Lions for the No.1 spot going into the last two weeks of the elimination rounds.

In the second game, Mapua survived also-ran Philippine Christian University (PCU), 63-60, to improve its record to 6-5, and move to just a full game behind the San Sebastian College Stags in their battle for the last Final Four slot. The Dolphins succumbed to their ninth loss against only three wins.

Heavily favored to come out triumphant, the Muralla-based Letranites seemed on their way to easily doing so after they built a huge 37-24 halftime lead.

But the Altas, already out of the hunt for a postseason berth but playing for pride, caught fire in the third quarter and, led by the sudden explosion of guard Franz Dysam, stole the driver’s seat at 51-50 at the start of the payoff period.

Not wanting for fall to a huge upset and put their campaign in peril, the Knights quickly regrouped and launched a counterattack, a 14-0 run, to regain the lead and coast to the win. They also rebounded from disappointing back-to-back defeats against the Heavy Bombers (76-72) and the Stags of San Sebastian College (76-73).

“We’re very happy to get over the hump, which we expected we’d go through especially with our very good start,” said Letran coach Louie Alas.

“I like our chances right now, our main goal is to make it to the Final Four and then saka na namin iisipin na makapuwesto kami sa top two,” added the multititled mentor, whose wards came into the match with their scoring leader RJ Jazul suffering from a mild fever.

Second-string wingman Reymar Gutilban took the cudgels for Jazul as he poured in a personal season-high 17 points on seven-of-17 shooting from the field to show the way for the Knights, who beat the Altas for the ninth-straight time since the second round of the 2004 season.

“Nag-iba ang laro namin without Jazul. Naging inconsistent kami, especially in the third quarter, where Perpetual made a big run. Fortunately, Reymar stepped up for us and the rest of my starters did they roles,” he added.

Dino Daa had an all-around game, tallying 14 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals, while Rey Guevarra added 10 markers for Letran, which will have the dangerous Mapua as its next foe on Friday.

The Knights will wind up their 14-game assignments against the PCU Dolphins on September 5 and the Red Lions on September 10.

Dysam, who drilled in 10 points in that furious Altas third-quarter rally, finished with 18 points, while Mike Kong had 13 points, three assists and three steals to pace Perpetual, which absorbed its 11th-straight setback after winning its opening day match.

In the juniors division, Kevin Alas scored 22 points to power the Letran Squires to an 81-79 triumph over the Perpetual Altalettes.

‘CHA-CHING’ GAMES

WE got our full measure of Olympic moments in the just-completed Beijing Games, topped by Michael Phelps’s eight gold medals and Usain Bolt’s lightning sprints.

Who’s No. 1? Olympic gold haul prompts question

BEIJING—After 16 days of competition, a 204-country compilation of smiles, tears and cheers, the Olympic odometer can rest.

What other countries do when they win–or don’t win–gold

PANAMA and Mongolia were searching for the same thing as the Philippines in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The only difference was that those two countries’ quests—winning the elusive gold medal—finally came to an end.

Smiling outside, but hurting inside

IF you see Harry Tañamor around, most likely, you will see him wearing a smile like nothing had happened to him.

Youth in death group, too

SINCE the lifting of the suspension by the international cage body, the country’s return to international basketball has not been that welcoming as far as bracketing is concerned.

Knights make it a 3-way tie for lead

LETRAN got off to a strong start but needed a much stronger finish in repulsing University of Perpetual Help, 74-66, to gain a share of the lead in the mad race for the Final Four in the 84th National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

Tough Turf: TRS-Ford’s media racing experience

WHEN members of the motoring media are herded into a speedway, expect all hell to break loose!

That’s what happened when Tuason Racing School (TRS) and Ford Philippines held the “Media Racing Experience” recently at the rain-drenched Subic International Speedway.