CEMENTING ITS PLACE as the winningest team in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball history, the San Beda Red Lions trounced the Mapúa Cardinals in game three of the Season 99 Finals, 76-66, and netting its 23rd seniors title last December 17 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
After a third-place finish in the elimination round, and with a twice-to-win disadvantage in the semifinals, the Red Lions had been considered by many as the underdogs heading into the finals against the Cardinals. But after initially bowing to Mapúa in game one, 63-68, San Beda cleaned up its act in game two of the series and forced a winner-take-all game three.
At the end of the second game of the series, Red Lions head coach Yuri Escueta was asked about his team being snubbed from the individual awards. “...Meron ba? Next week na lang,” Coach Yuri cheekily answered, seemingly already claiming that the championship will be theirs come game three.
Moreover, Jacob Cortez also left the Bedan community with a promise following their game two finals win, inviting everyone to “come watch us on Sunday, as we are going to raise the championship trophy.”
Staying true to his words, the newly-minted “King Lion” led the charge, scoring the first field goal of the game and finding Clifford Jopia to dish two dimes, making the Mendiola-squad lead early, 11-4. Helping end their first quarter strong was Nygel Gonzales, who scored from deep to stretch the lead to nine, 24-15.
However, despite an excellent start, the Cardinals slowed down the hungry Lions as the first half of the game ended at 36-35, in favor of the Mendiola-based squad behind Gonzales’ ten points off the bench.
Down to the last 20 minutes of the match, the Cardinals started to heat up as they kept the Lions from gaining the advantage as the two teams went back and forth for the lead, with Peter Rosillo’s three-pointer netting the Cardinals a four-point advantage, 57-53.
With the NCAA championship at stake, the Lions’ outlasted the Cardinals in the closing minutes of the game, following Yukien Andrada’s outstanding shooting display from beyond the arc, opening the fourth with two shots from outside and tying the game at 61 apiece.
As the “King Lion” reentered the hardwood, Cortez immediately made impact following a quick dish to Andrada from deep and banked a floater, to take a 68-61 lead, forcing a Mapúa timeout.
Now inching closer to the throne, the Lions’ stellar defense kept the Cardinals from making their field goals, as Jopia and James Payosing pounded them on the offensive end, stretching the lead to nine points, 72-63, while free throws from Payosing and Emman Tagle iced out the game, 76-66.
And at the sound of the buzzer, the Mendiola-based squad came out on top, avenging the 1991 Red Lions squad led by the late Boybits Victoria and putting the nightmare of the 1991 NCAA season to rest.
Finishing with an 11-point and 14-rebound double-double, Payosing provided much needed support on both ends of the floor along with Andrada’s 18 points in the second half. For his efforts, Payosing was awarded Finals most valuable player (MVP), averaging 9.6 points and 12 boards, all while being relinquished to the bench in games two and three.
Kept off the NCAA throne for five years, following their last championship in 2018, the Red Lions were on a date with destiny to reclaim their trophy for their 23rd championship in the country’s oldest collegiate sports league.
San Beda 76: Andrada 20, Payosing 11, Gonzales 10, Cortez 8, Royo 6, Jopia 6, Tagle 4, Alfaro 4, Puno 3, Visser, 2, Cuntapay 2.
Mapua 66: Recto 18, Escamis 13, Rosillo 10, Hernandez 6, Cuenco 5, Dalisay 5, Bonifacio 4, Soriano 3, Fornis 2, Bancale 0, Sabsalon 0.
(With Dencel Mauri Fernandez)