The Arellano University Chiefs continued their sensational run in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament, outlasting the Letran Knights in an 82-81 thriller to remain undefeated at 4-0 and take sole possession of Group B's top spot. Head coach Chico Manabat noted that this marks Arellano’s first victory over Letran since 2023.
Player of the Game T-MC Ongotan put on an absolute masterclass to power the Chiefs, dropping a career-high 29 points alongside an impressive stat line of 12 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Arellano stayed close in a fast-paced opening quarter. Team Captain Maverick Vinoya set the tone early with a driving lay-up, while Ongotan drilled a three-pointer and turned a steal into a fastbreak score. Renzo Abiera then buried a clutch three-pointer with three seconds left, closing the period at 25-28.
The battle intensified in the second quarter as Letran pushed back hard. The Chiefs faced a scary moment with 1:15 left in the half when CJ Libang suffered a fall after attempting a contest on Sison Walker from Letran and colliding with his teammate Karl Flores. Letran managed to grab momentum to take a 42-48 lead into halftime, despite strong first-half efforts from halftime leading scorers Ongotan (14 points), Basti Valencia (5 points), and Ernest Geronimo (5 points).
Refusing to let the game slip away, Arellano’s defense clamped down in the third quarter. A steal by Yuan Camay set up another Ongotan three-pointer, followed by an aggressive drive from Ongotan to claim the lead for the Chiefs at 57-55 with 4:55 remaining. When Letran responded, Borromeo answered back with a timely three-pointer to nudge Arellano ahead 60-59, followed immediately by another bomb from distance by Flores to stretch the cushion to 63-60. Anchored by active hands, forced turnovers, and multiple clean blocks from Ongotan, the Chiefs carried 68-63 lead into the final frame.
The fourth quarter brought maximum drama. After Ongotan opened the period with a three-pointer, the Chiefs faced adversity when Basti Valencia was ejected following a technical foul with six minutes left, allowing Letran to surge ahead 73-76. Refusing to break, Arellano doubled down on aggressive drives before Flores knocked down a huge three-pointer and Vinoya added a key free throw to reclaim the lead. Entering a chaotic final minute up 82-81, the Chiefs locked down on the final possession to seal the epic win.
Big congratulations to Coach Chico Manabat and the entire Chiefs community on another character-building victory. Overcoming a tough rival in a battle of unbeatens proves that this Chiefs team possesses the grit needed for a deep run. The momentum is firmly on Arellano's side—one game at a time, all the way to the top. Stay undefeated, Chiefs!
- Heaven Joy Prado
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