Letran Squires’ Daniel Padilla. Handout/NGBL.

MANILA — Colegio de San Juan de Letran remained unbeaten in the Next Generation Basketball League (NGBL) after it outlasted Far Eastern University-Diliman in the young league's first-ever overtime game.

The reigning NCAA high school champions etched an 83-82 victory during their Sunday morning faceoff at the Tanduay Gym in Manila, Daniel Padilla lifting his team with his 16 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal.

But despite the victory, what new head coach Willie Miller values more is treating such games as a learning experience for his team that is now without former Squires stars Titing Manalili and George Diamante who are expected to eventually suit up for the Knights once eligible to play. 

"Wala yun. Testing naman 'to sa lahat ng players namin eh," said Miller. "Testing ito kung ano yung capacity ng mga players pagdating ng mga crucial (stretch). Pero hindi naman talaga ang goal sa ngayon is to win, ang kailangan is to learn," added the two-time PBA MVP. 

Miller's squad held a 16-point lead, 54-38, in the third canto, but a late surge in the same frame by the Baby Tamaraws eventually brought them back into the game and even sent it to an extension.

"Di nag dedere-deretso yung intensity ng team namin lalo sa depensa. Then ang problema naman sa opensa, pag wala yung main scorers, 'di nae-execute yung play. Nag re-rely sa one-on-one yung mga players," Miller said.

Padilla, Justin Hugo, Timo Cruz, and Syrex Silorio's string of baskets then gave Letran an 83-80 lead with exactly a minute left in OT, but Xyruz Gemao gave his team one last push as his lay-in cut the Muralla boys' lead to one with only 18 ticks left in the clock.

Silorio then missed both of his attempts at the foul line to leave a slight opening for FEU-D, but unfortunately for the Baby Tams, Yosef Rañeses missed his shot from beyond the arc as he tried to steal the win for his team. 

On the other hand, Khean Esperanza led the FEU-D with 16 points and four rebounds. Liam Salangsang and Rañeses had 15 and 11, respectively in the game, but their team fell to 1-2 in Group B.

To open the second of the three-day long weekend offering of the NGBL, Jose Rizal University survived Ateneo de Manila University, 64-62.

Standing out for the Light Bombers was James Almario, as the 19-year-old wing posted 26 points, 10 rebounds, and five steals.

"Nag tiwala lang po ako sistema ng JRU. Hindi 'to tungkol sa individual skills, at talagang team effort po ito," said Almario of his squad who finally had their breakthrough win in the NGBL, as he also dedicated his performance to his mother who is celebrating her birthday today.

"Naniniwala po ako na tuloy-tuloy na 'to kasi maganda na po yung sistema namin ngayon, tapos ito na po yung gift ko sayo Ma, I love you," he added. 

Meanwhile, the now 1-1 Blue Eaglets were led by guard Chris Urbina who had 12 markers and three steals. However, they were not able to duplicate their buzzer-beater win over Xavier School last week.

Down by four in the last 10 seconds of the game, Ziv Espinas made a follow-up basket to get ADMU to within two, with only four seconds on the clock.

A turnover from CJ Satparam gave Ateneo another chance to win at the buzzer, but Urbina missed his attempt from beyond the arc, in turn, resulting in the Katipunan ballers absorbing their first defeat.

In the third and last game, National University-Nazareth School dominated the University of the East in a UAAP affair, 73-54.  

JM Palanca starred for his team with 13 points, eight rebounds, and an assist, while helping him was Sean Solomon who had 12 markers on top of four rebounds and two steals.

Trailing 2-11 early in the contest, the Bullpups regained composure as the first quarter progressed and even held a 20-18 lead heading into the second after a buzzer-beating trey from Thomas Pillado.

Both teams locked horns until midway through the second quarter and were tied at 22, but NUNS took the lead for good on a 12-to-nothing run in a span of three minutes to create a double-digit cushion after the first half.

The Bullpups' lead then ballooned to as much as 22 in the second half, and this was all that the Sampaloc-based squad needed to get their second win in three games and hand the Junior Warriors their first loss in Group A.

Leading UE, for its part, was Jean Vana who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and backstopping him were Jamal Diaz and Luige Almanza who both had nine. 

The scores:

First Game:

JRU 64 — Almario 26, Marin 8, Aballe 8, Castillo 7, Cruz 5, Abequibel 4, Satparam 4, Lacusong 2, Tandang 0, Callueng 0, To 0, Ong 0. 

Ateneo 62 — Urbina 12, Gatmaitan 9, Tan 8, Asistio 7, Reyes 5, Kaw 5, Kallos 4 Silvestre 4, Espinas 3, Delos Santos 2, Leal 2, Suico 1, Trinidad 0, Ymasa 0, Lacsamana 0. 

Second Game:

Letran 83 — Padilla 16, Reyes 13, Cruz 11, Silorio 10, Hugo 7, Dela Rama 5, Alforque 4, Villanueva 4, Valdevilla 4, Magcale 3, Paguio 3, Quijada 3, Danan 0, Quinones 0, Sumagang 0.

FEU-D 82 — Esperanza 16, Salangsang 15, Rañeses 11, Pascual 8, Santos 7, De Guzman 7, Gemao 6, Maierhofer 5, Ngagne 4, Castillejos 2, Hall 1, Dagcutan 0. 

Third Game:

NUNS 73 — Palanca 13, Solomon 12, Pillado 8, Alfanta 8, Akowe 7, Locsin 6 Matias 5, Cartel 5, Natinga 4, Casala 3, Usop 2, Cabrales 0, Acosta 0, Nepacena 0, Bouzina 0, Timbang 0, Napa 0. 

UE 54 — Bana 13, Almanza 9, Diaz 9, Sabroso 6, Lagat 4, Aguas 4, Bual 3, Roquid 2, Braga 2, Farochilen 2, Timbol 0, Dahino 0, Abellar 0, Cuevas 0, Chua 0.