Games Monday
(The Arena, San Juan City)
9 a.m. – SSCR vs EAC (Jrs.)
10:45 a.m. – JRU vs Letran (Jrs.)
12:30 p.m. – Perpetual vs LPU (Jrs.)
2:15 p.m. – SBC vs Arellano (Jrs.)
4 p.m. – Mapua vs CSB-LSGH (Jrs.)
Spitfire Evan Nelle buried the winning triple with 3.1 ticks left as reigning champion San Beda squeaked past bitter rival CSB-La Salle Greenhills, 85-82, yesterday to clinch the twice-to-beat semifinal incentive in NCAA juniors basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.
The 5-foot-10 point guard, last year’s Finals Most Valuable Player, took matters into his own hands following an assist from Prince Etrata to steer the eight-peat-seeking Red Cubs to their 16th victory against one loss.
The win was also San Beda’s fourth straight since bowing to University of Perpetual Help two weeks ago, while also snapping the Junior Blazers’ 10-game winning run.
Nelle spearheaded San Beda with 27 points highlighted by eight three-pointers, while grabbing five assists.
La Salle Greenhills, which is also in the Final Four, settled at joint third place with 13-4.
Etrata also shone for the Red Cubs with 13 points even as starter Sam Abu Hijle dominated the paint with 11 rebounds.
Meanwhile, Malayan-Mapua leaned on reigning MVP Michael Enriquez at crunch time as the Red Robins outhustled last year’s runnersup Arellano Braves, 84-71, to grab solo second at 13-3.
Arellano threatened in the final 3:31 when Jayson Danas completed his charities to trim a 72-69 Mapua lead, but Enriquez bannered a 12-2 exchange en route to the win.
Enriquez finished with 28 points, six rebounds and five assists, while Bryan Samudio 10 points and 14 boards for the Red Robins.
In the other match, eliminated team Jose Rizal University shocked Lyceum, 75-72, to pick up its third triumph against 13 defeats.
Benedict Buno and Toby Agustin led the Light Bombers with 20 and 12 points, respectively, while Raphael Buazon chipped in 10 markers and nine boards.
Scores:
JRU 75 – Buno 20, Agustin 12, Buazon 10, Caballero 8, Guzman 5, Torre 5, Ballad 4, Sicat 4, Sta. Maria 4, Camua 3, Principe 0.
LYCEUM 72 – Cecilio 14, Jungco 9, Cunanan 8, De Leon 8, Guadana 7, Santos 7, Udal 5, Manuel 4, Figueroa 4, Salazar 3, Ruiz 3, Umpad 0.
Quarters: 18-15; 39-39; 60-59; 75-72.
Second Game
SAN BEDA 85 – Nelle 27, Etrata 13, Dela Rosa 11, Obenza 10, Mahinay 8, Abu Hijle 4, Tagala 4, Barbero 4, Alfaro 2, Nayve 1, Lagumen 0, Garcia 0.
CSB 82 – Marcos 20, David 14, Cagulangan 14, Naboa 11, Mallinllin 9, Lao 5, Cruz 3, Espinosa 3, Lepalam 2, Pedrosa 1.
Quarters: 25-18; 48-40; 66-63; 85-82.
Third Game
MALAYAN-MAPUA 84 – Enriquez 28, Lacap 12, Escamis 11, Samudio 10, Bonifacio 8, Garcia 6, Gozum 6, Arcangel 3, Salenga 0, Dagta 0.
ARELLANO 71 – Dela Torre 14, Espiritu 12, Danas 9, Sunga 9, Fermin 7, Batilier 7, Dulatre 5, Fornis 4, Abadeza 2, De Leon 2, Tamayo 0, Velasco 0, Dimaunahan 0.
Quarters: 22-15; 43-37; 66-58; 84-71.