SAN JUAN CITY — The NCAA Season 99 junior basketball competition saw defending champion Letran assert its dominance with an 83-69 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College at the Filoil EcoOil Centre on Sunday. This win positions Letran alongside Mapua University and Perpetual Help at the top of the leaderboard, each showcasing strong performances early in the season.
According to Philippines News Agency, Moses Manalili led Letran with 15 points, nine assists, three rebounds, and a steal, contributing significantly to the team's fifth win in six games. Teammates Jolo Navarro, George Diamante, and Jovel Baliling also made notable contributions, with Navarro recording 14 points and nine rebounds among other stats. The Squires established a commanding lead by halftime, setting the pace for the remainder of the game.
EJ Castillo of the EAC Brigadiers emerged as the game's top scorer with 28 points, despite the team's loss, which marks their fourth in six games. Kelly Coronel also stood out for EAC with a well-rounded performance.
In another closely contested match, Mapua secured a narrow 72-71 victory over Perpetual, thanks to Lawrence Mangubat's impressive 25-point game, including a crucial 11 points in the fourth quarter. This win is a strong rebound for Mapua, following a loss to Letran in their previous game.
Perpetual's Aries Borja, despite the loss, had an impactful game with 18 points and eight rebounds. The Perpetual Altas are now tied in standings with several teams showing competitive spirit early in the season.
Additionally, San Sebastian College edged out Arellano University in an overtime thriller, 102-100, improving their record to 4-2. Ruvic Danag led the charge for San Sebastian with a game-high 34 points, supported by Ben Jimenez and Jhun Penaverde.
Meanwhile, Lyceum of the Philippines University secured its first win of the season, defeating San Beda University 74-64, thanks to Kyle Timbol and Jasper Matienzo's 14-point performances each. This victory ends Lyceum's five-game losing streak and provides a much-needed boost to their season.
The competition continues to heat up as teams vie for supremacy in the NCAA Season 99 junior basketball tournament, with each game bringing unexpected outcomes and standout performances.