NCAA Junior Basketball Flashbacks: Neil Guariño and the best games of the Letran Squires (part 2)

(Notes: Neil Guariño and Kurt Reyson both had a great season with other team members who played with them last year. That was before many of their teammates graduated, and were absorbed in team of the Letran Knights in season 94 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball tournament. Guariño, now 18, is coming out of an injury when they played against the San Beda Red Cubs. That’s when he got smacked in the lips. He is set to return to action again sometime soon in season 94. Reyson, on the other hand, is in Team B of the Knights).

Neil Guarino of the Letran Squires.

15 Aug. 2018, 

Tuesday,

FilOil-Flying V Sports Center,

San Juan

Averaging 16.5 minutes, 7.3 points and 2.5 rebounds, Guariño got noticed when the Letran Squires went into overtime beat the San Sebastian Staglets, 85-74.

And so did Reyson, who was norming 12.2 minutes, 7.5 points and 1.6 rebounds.

This gave the Squires their fourth win in eight games when the game was finished on Aug. 15, 2017, at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.

Kurt Reyson(8) of the Squires get involved in a possession battle with the Staglets.

Guariño went on to finish with 23 points, and the Squires stayed in fourth place in the junior division of the 93^rd National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) junior basketball tournament.

On the other hand, Reyson was good for 21 points.

Their game against the Staglets was tight that day.

Neil Tolentino in action.

The Squires were counting on their three-point shooting, both in regulation and overtime, to escape a tough Staglets squad.

In regulation, the Staglets were fighting to protect at 62-59 lead which they got after Neil Villapando drove following a defensive rebound from Romel Calahat.

The Raymund Valenzona-coached Squires forced an overtime when Reyson, getting the ball of a defensive rebound from Laksmann Ganapathy, scored in the last six seconds.

 

 

Stephen Tamayo of the Letran Squires signals a play.

In the extra period, Stephen Tamayo led the assault, knocking in a pair of buckets off assists from Reyson and Guarino.
Their baskets in the beginning of extra time triggered an 8-0 run, which ended with Enoch Valdez’s putback and a technical charity shot from Reyson.
They then enjoyed a nine-point lead off Neil Tolentino’s trey in final 2:22.

Enoch Valdez (2) gets screened by Baste players Ameer Aguilar (left) and Damie Cuntapay(right).

When the game was over, the 17 year old Guarino recalled that his three-point shots were usually off.

“Dati, off ang three-points shots ko. Pero, nakuha ko na ang kumpiyansa ko. At tsaka, dahil din sa teammates ko,” said the 11^th grader.

Coach Valenzona, as he remembered that game, said he asked members of the team to set up Guarino for baskets.

“Shooter namin siya. Malaking shooter. Sabi ka sa mga teammates niya na hanapin Guarino,” said Valenzona.

NCAA Junior Basketball Flashbacks: The best games of the Letran Squires (part 1)

(Neil Tolentino (10) of the Letran Squires prepares to go for a rebound following an attempt by Perpetual Help’s Kim Siege).

(Notes: The Letran Squires are not known as a team with dominant players. Over the last two years, they have players who provide leadership in some games, and in some other games. In season 93, it was Enoch Valdez’s time to shine for the Squires. And in season 94, only one player stands out for the Squires early in the tournament, and that’s little known Shawn Umali when it comes to rebounds, now that Valdez is now playing for the Lyceum Pirates in the senior division).

11 Aug. 2017

8:30 p.m.

Friday,

FilOil-Flying V Arena,

San Juan

The Letran Squires’ top player Enoch Valdez stayed in the sidelines when they took on and waylaid the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, 78-68.

Three teammates, mostly second unit players, took charge for the Squires as they eked out their third win in seven in games in the first round of the 92^nd National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball wars.

Kurt Reyson, Laksman Ganapathy, Russell Aniban, Louis Montes were providing key plays in the last minute of the first quarter, and in the start of the second period.

(Letran Squires cager Russelle Aniban goes for a basket while Junior Altas cager John Umali(7)).

Reyson started the Squires’ breakaway with a triple, before Ganapathy, a Singaporean transferee, came up with two blocks, came up a layup and an assist to Aniban.

The Squires were slightly ahead, 13-12, and when the three were finished, Letran took a six-point edge, 20-12, in the last 52 seconds.

Ganapathy came through with another rebound, and set up Aniban for a basket in the start of the second period.

Kurt Reyson (8) of the Letran Squires dribbles in front three Junior Altas defenders.

Montes then struck twice in the last 6:04, and the Squires pulled away, 29-14.

Coach Raymund Valenzona, speaking on the Squires’ third win in seven games, said the performance of team speaks well of the Squires.

“Maganda ito. Kasi, paakyat ang standings namin. Kahit 2-4, nadagdagan. Ngayon, 3-4 na,” said Valenzona.

As Russelle Aniban (5) makes an attempt past Junior Altas player Errol Bongay, Kobe Monje (16) prepares to assist.

After their seventh game in first round of season, Neil Tolentino led scoring with 12 points, and averages 11.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in the 28.1 minutes that he is on the floor.

Valdez leads the Knights with 11.3 points and 10. rebounds, to go with his 21.9 minutes of playing time.

Keifer Cordero is the Knights’ third most productive with 18.3 minutes, 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Keith Peralta (5) of the Letran Squires makes a drive with Errol Bingay in front of him.

He is followed by two other starters Kobe Monje and Neil Guarino.