By REYNALD MAGALLON
San Beda rode a strong third quarter showing to repulse Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-72 in the last game day of the first round of the NCAA Season 99 men’s basketball tournament on Sunday, Oct. 22 at the FilOil-EcoOil Arena in San Juan.
Yukien Andrada was at the forefront of the third quarter onslaught that allowed the Red Lions to establish a wide margin before Jacob Cortez put on the finishing touches in the final frame.
San Beda hiked their record to 7-2 after ending the first round of the eliminations with a four-game win streak.
Cortez led the way with 17 points – including the timely hits that restored order for San Beda after EAC cut a once 20-point lead at the end of the third frame to just 11, 75-64 behind the hot hands of Ralph Robin.
Cortez buried a long bomb that triggered a telling 8-0 run as San Beda reestablished an 83-64 advantage.
Andrada added 14 points as he anchored San Beda’s third quarter rally where it outscored EAC, 28-14 to erect a 72-52 lead.
Clifford Hopia added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds while Jomel Puno also had 11 points and 12 rebounds.
Meantime, College of St. Benilde exacted its revenge to its last season’s Finals tormentor Letran, cruising to a dominant 68-55 victory and end the first round of the eliminations on a high note.
Migz Oczon presided over a second half flurry for the Blazers to finish with an all-around effort of 15 points, six rebounds and six assists while Miggy Corteza came up one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Blazers finished the first round with a 5-4 record bouncing back from a heartbreaking loss against the EAC Generals last time out while sending the Knights, who were hardly a shade of their last season’s form, to a lowly 1-8 slate.
CSB created the separation in the third frame where Oczon dropped eight of his total to help the Blazers outgun the Knights, 25-14. When the dust settled, CSB already turned a once 35-26 advantage into a commanding 60-40 lead heading into the fourth.
Oczon, Corteza and Robi Nayve, who also added 12 points, simply provided answers to every Letran’s attempt to make a run in the final frame to seal the win.
