FOLLOWING A MORALE boost after winning against their rivals, Letran, the San Beda Red Lions evaded a Perpetual Altas comeback, 63-62, for their second consecutive win in Round 1 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 seniors’ basketball tournament last October 5 at the FilOil EcoOil Center.
Jomel Puno, earning his second straight Best Player of the Game honors, led the Mendiola-based squad to victory by tallying 16 points and eight rebounds. Meanwhile, Yukien Andrada contributed 11 points, RC Calimag notched 10, and Nygel Gonzales, Bryan Sajonia, and Penny Estacio combined for an 18-point effort.
Puno began a display of his range by sinking a three to start the Red Lions in the first quarter, followed by another from Andrada to earn an early four-point lead. However, Altas refused to let the Red Lions widen the margin and drained a three in response, keeping it a one-point game, 6-5.
Despite both teams’ efforts to outscore each other, the first quarter ultimately ended in a deadlock, 13-13.
Into the second quarter, while the Red Lions displayed the same effort to score and play zone, the team was outscored by two points at the half, ending the second quarter at 33-35 in favor of the Altas.
The Red Lions focused on their perimeter shooting as Altas tightened their end with a suffocating zone defense. It would all be for naught as RC Calimag broke through Altas with his outside shooting from the corner, putting his name on the board with 10 points.
The Mendiola-based squad’s combined offensive charge outscored Perpetual by 10 points, resulting in a 23-13 exchange that placed the Lions in the front seat, 56-48.
However, Altas would go on a late 7-14 quarter surge to eviscerate the Red Lions’ lead, keeping the game on a knife’s edge. An improved defense allowed the men in Red to escape with a tight one-point win at 63-62.
Improving their record to 5-3, the Lions now find themselves tied for third place in the Round 1 standings.
Post-game, Puno shared to The Bedan that the team put their losses behind and used the win from Letran as a “motivation to win today’s game.” “We had a slow start in the first round, so, after that one, we put that whole thing behind us and just look forward and use the momentum to come in today’s game.”
When asked about seeing a deeper rotation in future games, Head Coach Yuri Escueta emphasized how deeper rotations and substitutions allowed the Red Lions to up their offense. “That always helps, ‘yung scoring of our bench. Personally, I always try to use 12 to 13 players every game.”
The Red Lions notched 29 points off the bench, shouldering much of the scoring against Altas.
Coming from an ACL injury, Bismarck Lina suited up for today’s game against Perpetual. While he was initially set to play in the second round of the league, Coach Yuri had other plans.
“Bismarck will be part of that rotation for sure. Medyo restricted lang ‘yung minutes niya for now…Gusto naming maramdaman niya na ano ‘yung NCAA,” he added.
The Red Lions will look to close out Round 1 on a high note in their NCAA Season 99 finals rematch against the Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals on Tuesday, October 8, 2:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Quarter Scores: 13-13, 33-35, 56-48, 63-62
San Beda 63 – Puno 16, Andrada 11, Calimag RC 10, Gonzales 6, Sajonia 6, Estacio 6, Songcuya 4, Royo 3, Celzo 1
Perpetual – Abis 14, Orgo 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Pagaran 8, Boral 6, Nunez 4, Gelsano 3, Montemayor 3, Manuel 2, Cauguiran 2
(With Denver Provido)