IN A HIGHLY contested match, the San Beda Red Lions were narrowly bested by the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Pirates, 62-64, in Round 2 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 100 seniors’ basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Center on October 15.
After four consecutive wins, the Red Lions’ win streak came to an end at the hands of the Lyceum Pirates, whom they defeated in their Round 1 debut.
Bismarck Lina and Jomel Puno carried the momentum for the team, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively. Despite this, the Red Lions struggled at the free-throw line, sinking only nine of 19 attempts which impacted their chances to close in on the Lions.
Both teams traded leads throughout the game, with LPU’s biggest advantage reaching four points at the end of the third quarter, 44-48.
During the second quarter, Nygel Gonzalez suffered an injury, forcing the team to adjust their rotation. Nevertheless, the Red Lions continued on, keeping the fight close until the final moments.
In the dying minutes of the match, rookie point guard Penny Estacio continued his offensive display in the clutch, scoring the last two go-ahead buckets for the Red Lions.
Despite Estacio’s heroics, it was LPU that hit the dagger three-pointer with 8.6 seconds left in the game.
When asked regarding their missed free-throw opportunities, Head Coach Yuri emphasized “It’s not just about close games; we need to execute our game plan for the full 40 minutes.”
He also emphasized that mental mistakes “could be detrimental and stressed the importance of staying composed. “Shooting our free throws will definitely help,” he concluded.
Reflecting on their defeat, Penny Estacio acknowledged the emotional nature of the game, noting, “It’s just another game where we had the chance to show that we can control the pace, but we fell short today.”
The Red Lions will look to regain their winning ways as they prepare for a rematch with Perpetual Atlas on Friday, October 18, 12:00 p.m., at the same venue.
Quarter scores: 20-12, 32-31, 44-44, 62-64
San Beda 62—Lina 12, Andrada 11, Puno 10, Sajonia 8, Payosing 6, Tagle 5, Songcuya 2
Lyceum 64—Montano 12, Cunanan 11, Bravo 9, Dalleg 7, Villegas 6, Aviles 5, Barba 4, Penafiel 4, Panelo 2, Versoza 2, Gordon 2
(with Paris Isaac Falcone)