Letran finally on board with slump-ending win vs. EAC

Colegio de San Juan de Letran earned their first victory in NCAA Season 101 by defeating Emilio Aguinaldo College 84-80 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The win improved Letran's record to 1-3 in Group B, while EAC fell to 1-2, with standout performances from Deo Cuajao and Jonathan Manalili leading the Knights.

Deo Cuajao delivered a season-high 23 points, including six three-pointers, while rookie Jonathan Manalili recorded a double-double with 12 points, 13 assists, six rebounds, and four steals. Letran's head coach Allen Ricardo commented on the team's challenging season, expressing that this first win was crucial and hoping for continued success.

The game featured intense back-and-forth action, with Letran building an early 11-point lead in the second period. EAC mounted a comeback in the third quarter, briefly taking a 59-58 lead, but Cuajao's three-pointer helped Letran hold a narrow 63-61 advantage entering the final quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Cuajao and Peter Rosillo hit key three-pointers to extend Letran's lead, and Aaron Buensalida contributed a layup for a 78-71 edge. Cuajao also made a critical defensive play by blocking Wilmar Oftana's three-point attempt in the final minutes, securing the win despite EAC's efforts from Nico Quinal and Jude Bagay.

Additional contributions came from Kevin Santos, who scored 12 points with five rebounds and a steal, making him the fourth Letran player in double digits. The final scores highlighted Letran's balanced attack with Cuajao (23), Santos (15), Buensalida (12), and Manalili (12), while EAC was led by Oftana and Quinal with 16 points each.