By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Games Saturday
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
11 a.m. – Arellano vs Lyceum
2:30 p.m. – SSCR vs EAC
San Beda reaffirmed its mastery over University of Perpetual Help with a 57-53 victory on Friday, Oct. 18, to get back on the winning track in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The Red Lions played solid defensively anchored on Bismarck Lina and Jomel Puno to slow down the Altas and clinch their eighth win against four losses.
The victory somehow erased San Beda’s bitter 64-62 upset loss to Lyceum last Tuesday, Oct. 15, as they outmuscled Perpetual particularly in the last four minutes of the game.
“I know it’s going to be a low-scoring defensive game (against Perpetual), so I just told them that every possession counts,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
“Especially in this kind of game where both teams play good defense, I told them we have to get all the rebounds and dive for the 50-50 balls,” he added.
Yukien Andrada paced the Red Lions with 21 points, while teammates contributed small yet significant numbers with Lina finishing with nine points and six rebounds, Puno adding eight points and five boards, and Zachary
Estacio pouring in all his six points in the crucial last five minutes of the game.
It took time before San Beda finally got its groove back, trailing by 11, 19-8, in the first quarter before limiting Perpetual to only seven points in the second period to grab the 29-26 advantage at the half.
The Red Lions kept their pace, with Estacio shining through after burying two triples that gave them the 57-50 lead in the last 43.4 seconds.
Perpetual refused to give up the fight with Mark Gojo Cruz retaliating with a
booming trey of his own in the last 37.3 ticks.
The Altas, however, failed to convert baskets in the final possessions as the Lions tightened up their defensive screws.
Gojo Cruz finished with 14 points, six rebounds and three assists, while Jearico Nunez and Christian Pagaran had 11 and 10 points for Perpetual, who felt the absence of Shawn Orgo in the second half after the latter hurt his shoulder late in the second quarter.
The Altas fell to 5-7.
Rookie sensation Chris Hubilla went on a rampage as he willed Mapua to an 86-78 victory over Letran in the second game.
Hubilla finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists that offset his eight turnovers and lift the Cardinals to a 9-3 mark, or just half a game behind the league-leading St. Benilde Blazers (9-2).
It was enough to fill the void of the absence of starting center Marc Igliane, who served his one-game suspension, the scoring struggles of captain Clint Escamis and the sprained ankle of Marc Cuenco.
The scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 57 – Andrada 21, Lina 9, Puno 8, Estacio 6, Calimag 6, Tagle 4, Sajonia 3, Payosing 0, Bonzalida 0, Tagala 0, Songcuya 0, Celzo 0.
PERPETUAL 53 – Gojo Cruz 14, Nuñez 11, Pagaran 10, Abis 7, Boral 4, Manuel 3, Montemayor 3, Pizarro 1, Orgo 0, Gelsano 0.
Quarters: 8-19; 29-26; 44-38; 57-53.
Second Game
MAPUA 86 – Hubilla 19, Recto 14, Jabonete 13, Mangubat 10, Bancale 9, Cuenco 7, Escamis 5, Abdulla 4, Concepcion 3, Garcia 2, Ryan 0, Fermin 0.
LETRAN 78 – Miller 14, Monje 14, Cuajao 13, Montecillo 7, Santos 6, Go 6, Dimaano 5, Tagotongan 5, Jumao-As 4, Delfino 2, Nunag 2, Sarza 0.
Quarters: 27-28; 44-44; 66-59; 86-78
