IN THEIR SEASON 99 finals rematch, the San Beda Red Lions extended their championship-caliber play against the Mapua University (MU) Cardinals, winning 76-69 in extra time to seize second place after Round 1 in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 100 seniors’ basketball tournament last October 8 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
Team Captain Yukien Andrada, who sank crucial buckets in overtime to steer the gritty Lions past the Cardinals, tallied 18 markers and nine boards to earn Player of the Game nod. Meanwhile, Season 99 finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) James Payosing regained his footing with 15 points and seven rebounds.
Nygel Gonzales knocked down two three-pointers while Bryan Sajonia added another from deep to give the Red Lions a comfortable three-point lead at the end of the first quarter, 19-16.
Things took a turn for the worse as the Red Lions endured a 1-13 run by the Cardinals until the final minute. AJ Royo only managed to stop the Mendiola squad’s bleeding via a fastbreak layup to end the second, 28-37.
Fortunately, Payosing’s third-quarter heroics allowed the Lions to claw back into the game, attacking the rim continuously for eight points to eviscerate the Cardinals’ momentum during the third, 50-53.
A nip-and-tuck game ensued by the fourth, but the Cardinals closed the gap off a rebound shot, 64-66.
Down by two with 11.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Penny Estacio executed a fake handoff to Payosing, driving through the open lane for an easy bucket to tie the game at 66-66 and force overtime.
Andrada delivered a masterful triple and a mid-range fadeaway to stretch the margin, scoring five of the Lions’ 10 points in extra time to lift the triumphant Mendiola squad over the Cardinals, 76-69.
In a post-game interview, Head Coach Yuri Escueta emphasized the team’s “defensive side” in their finals rematch against the Cardinals, saying “[the] defensive game plan has really worked for us.”
“So yun lang yung calling card namin, the identity that we have to build is really at the defensive side of this, tapos we want to improve our offense as the season progresses,” he added.
The Red Lions will look to extend their momentum in Round 1 as they face their first contender for Round 2 in the Arellano University (AU) Chiefs on Saturday, October 12, 11:00 a.m., at the same venue.
Quarter Scores: 19-16, 30-38, 53-53, 66-66, 76-69
San Beda 76 – Andrada 18, Payosing 15, Sajonia 10, Estacio 9, Gonzales 6, Puno 6, Lina 5, Tagle 3, Celio 2, Royo 2, Songcuya 0, Calimag 0
Mapua 69 – Cuenco 20, Escamis 19, Concepcion 9, Mangubat 6, Hubilla 6, Bancale 5, Igliane 2, Jabonete 2, Ryan 0, Fermin 0