Rhenz Abando, Letran dominate University of Perpetual Help, 68-57

By Joey Villar

RHENZ Abando showed he’s worth the investment as he dished out an MVP performance to power Letran to a 68-57 dismantling of University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) on Sunday and into the top of the 97th NCAA basketball tournament at the La Salle Greenhills Gym in Mandaluyong.

Mr. Abando, a transferee from University of Santo Tomas, unleashed a monster line of 24 points including three long treys, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and a steal to lift the Knights to their third straight win and straight to the top.

Letran picked up Mr. Abando, already an established star, during University of Santo Tomas’ turbulent times in the other league — the UAAP — amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic two years ago.

And after just three games, Mr. Abando has proven he is money in the bank.

“We just treated this game as if it was a championship game because this is a short season and we have no chance to get back if we lose, that’s why we gave it our best,” said the 22-year Mr. Abando, who moved from España to Muralla two years ago.

It was Mr. Abando who set the pace for the reigning titlist in the first half, pouring in eight points to lead, 28-23.

He then scattered 16 in the second half when the Knights eventually blew the Mike Saguiguit-coached Altas away.

Louie Sangalang and Allen Mina chipped in 10 points apiece while Christian Fajarito and Jeo Ambohot provided the muscle inside and combined for 22 rebounds and nine points.

Jeff Egan and Kim Aurin bounced back from a lethargic effort last time by dropping 15 and 12 points, respectively, but had no answer to Mr. Abando in the end as the Las Pinas-based dribblers fell to their second defeat against a win.

It didn’t help that Jielo Razon, the other of UPHSD’s big three, fired blanks on this one and missed all his eight shots after erupting for 22 points including six booming triples in a 63-58 loss to San Sebastian on Friday.

The scores:

Letran 68 – Abando 24, Sangalang 10, Mina 10, Caralipio 6, Fajarito 5, Ambohot 4, Paraiso 4, Yu 2, Olivario 2, Reyson 1, Guarino 0, Tolentino 0, Javillonar 0

Perpetual 57 – Egan 15, Aurin 12, Omega 8, Nunez 6, Barcuma 5, Abis 4, Ferreras 4, Sevilla 2, Boral 1, Razon 0, Martel 0, Cuevas 0, Pagaran 0

Quarterscores: 13-10; 28-23; 54-36; 68-57