OPENING THE SEASON on a high, the San Beda Red Lions avenged its Season 100 final four woes against the De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers, 96-85, in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seniors’ basketball tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on October 1.  

The first quarter of the contest saw a high-scoring affair from both squads. The Red Lions struggled to contain Benilde’s Justin Sanchez in the opening frame, ending the first quarter down by four points with a score of 26-30.  

In an interview, Red Lions Head Coach Yuri Escueta spoke on the defensive performance of the team in the first quarter.  

“[D]efensively, we have quarter goals in giving up points. Yung first quarter, medyo dumoble yung (sa) goal namin,” he said.  

In the second quarter, the Mendiola-based squad halted the momentum of the Blazers, capturing the lead in the last two minutes of the first half.  

Benilde was limited to 15 points in the second quarter, with the Red Lions scoring 22 to take a 48-45 lead heading to the halftime break.  

The Red Lions continued the offensive and defensive momentum in the third quarter. Yukien Andrada entered the scoring column after a scoreless first half, rallying the Mendiola-based squad to a ten-point lead at the end of the third with a score of 71-61.  

In the fourth and final quarter of the contest, the Red Lions took their biggest lead of the contest with a score of 86-69. Despite being down by 17, the Blazers cut the lead to as low as six points in the last two minutes of the ball game.  

Continuous defensive stops from the Red Lions and an improved performance from the free-throw line saw the Red Lions secure the opening game win with a score of 86-85.    

The Season 101 opener for the Red Lions saw prized Filipino American recruits Agjanti Miller and Jimmy Reyes make their NCAA debuts against the Blazers. Both players made a strong first impression, with Miller scoring 16 points and Reyes making 13 markers of his own. 

The San Beda Red Lions will face their archrival, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Knights at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 5, at the Filoil Center in San Juan.  

Quarter scores: 26-30, 48-45, 71-61, 96-85 

San Beda 96—Sajonia 16, Miller 16, Reyes 13, 11, Etulle 9, Gonzales 8, Calimag RC 7, Celzo 6, Bonzalida 4, Culdora 4, Lina 2 

Benilde 85—Sanchez 24, Torres 13, Liwag 12, Ancheta 8, Celis 6, Oli 6, Cometa 4, Cajucom 4, Morales 3, Moore 3, Gaspay 2