Fr. Martin’s Cup: La Consolacion stuns Letran for first win

La Consolacion College of Manila pulled off a stunner in the 25th Fr. Martin’s Cup Summer League presented by Resorts World Manila, Bedans 62-66, and Cocolife after edging Colegio San Juan de Letran, 79-71 on Tuesday at the San Beda Gym in Mendiola, Manila on Tuesday.

The Blue Royals recovered from a sluggish start but still needed to finish strong to turn back the Knights in Group B play in the seniors’ division.

Behind the hot hands of Kenny Rocacurba, Letran raced to a 10-1 lead in the first five minutes of the game. However, LCCM slowly recovered and eventually took the lead at halftime, 41-33, as TJ Cariño led his team’s second-quarter charge.

La Consolacion vs. Letran (Roy Secretario/Fr. Martin's Cup media)
La Consolacion vs. Letran (Roy Secretario/Fr. Martin’s Cup media)

The Royals started the third quarter on an 11-3 blast to open the game’s largest lead at 16, 52-36. But the Knights clawed back and came to within four, 62-66, with 5:41 left in the fourth quarter.

Gabriel Latoreno scored crucial baskets down the stretch to help the Mendiola side finally get past their Intramuros counterparts.

Cariño made 18 points, while Ahron Estacio added 14 for the Royals, who scored their first win in the tournament following a loss in their debut.

Rocacurba’s 26-point blast hardly mattered for the Knights as they fell to 1-3 and failed to replicate their junior counterparts’ 100-60 romp of the Diliman Preparatory School Junior Blue Dragons in the first game.

Behind an eight-point swing from Shawn Umali, Letran’s Squires squad pulled away from Diliman Prep to stay unbeaten in Juniors Group A.

Umali and Andrei Romenez each scored 13 points for the Squires, who are now 3-0 in the preseason event.

Aaron Acop put up 17 markers for the Dragons, who made their debut in the tournament.