THE SAN BEDA Red Lions silenced the defending champions Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals, 79-70, in a fiery National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 101 seniors’ basketball tournament clash at the Filoil EcoOil Center last October 17.
The Red Lions came out blazing, dictating the pace with relentless offensive and defensive pressure, building a steady advantage in the first half. Rookie forward Agjanti Miller anchored the offense with 16 points before halftime as San Beda controlled the boards and tempo, heading to the break with a 49-39 lead.
Mapúa, however, found its rhythm in the third quarter. The Cardinals mounted a 14-2 run behind their rebounding edge and physical interior play, slicing San Beda’s lead to single digits.
Despite the pressure, the Red Lions regained control through discipline and composure, tightening their defense and rediscovering their offensive flow heading into the final quarter.
In the closing stretch, San Beda’s depth delivered when it mattered most. RC Calimag and Penny Estacio sank timely baskets that blunted Mapúa’s momentum, while Estacio added onto his stellar outing with a midrange dagger that sealed the game.
Miller finished with 20 points to lead San Beda, while Nygel Gonzales added 11 and Yuki Andrada chipped in nine. The Red Lions held Mapúa’s key scorers Clint Escamis and JC Recto to just a combined six points.
The win elevated San Beda’s record to 4-1, reaffirming their championship pedigree midway through the elimination round. For Mapúa, the loss dropped them to 3-2, marking a rare stumble for the reigning titleholders.
Capping off the group crossovers with a victory, Head Coach Yuri Escueta spoke on the importance of these matchups.
“Yung crossover, I just told them that our mindset shouldn’t be that these teams aren’t in our bracket. That we can just take them easily. Because if you lose or win here, it’s like a plus two and minus two in your bracket,” he said.
“Pero, parang minus two plus two ito doon sa mga hindi mo ka-bracket. So, mas importante ‘yung crossover wins. Especially itong ginawa namin first round, second round, third round eh… Importante sa amin ‘yung every win. Get as many wins as we can.”
The Red Lions look to continue their winning ways against the Arellano University (AU) Chiefs at 11:00 am on Friday, October 24, at the same venue.
Quarter Scores: 26-16, 49-34, 64-58, 79-70
San Beda 79 – Miller 20, Gonzales 11, Andrada 9, Calimag 8, Estacio 7, Lina 6, Etulle 6, Celzo 5, Bonzalida 3, Culdora 2, Sajonia 2.
Mapúa 70 – Cuenco 13, Sapasap 11, Gonzales 10, Recto 4, Escamis 2, De la Cruz others 28