DESPITE BEING DOWN by as much as 15 points, the San Beda Red Lions rallied late to defeat the Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals, 96-82, to secure the top seed and twice-to-beat advantage in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 101 senior’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Center last November 20.

Bryan Sajonia led the offense for the Red Lions, scoring a new career high of 26 points in his second straight outing as the game’s top scorer.   

The Red Lions started the opening frame flat. After an initial trade of baskets against the Generals, San Beda failed to contain the hot-shooting opponents. The first quarter ended with the Red Lions trailing by double digits with a score of 23-33. 

The early moments of the second quarter saw the Red Lions struggle to overcome their first quarter woes, as the Generals led by as much as 15 points, 25-40. The Mendiola-based squad’s defensive efforts and consistency in offense in the later stages of the first half saw the deficit cut down to eight with a score of 46-54.  

Momentum remained at the side of EAC to open the second half. The Red Lions struggled to chip away the Generals’ advantage in the first seven minutes of the third quarter. Facing a 61-71 deficit with three minutes remaining, an 8-2 run led by Yukien Andrada and Ismael Culdora saw the Red Lions cut the deficit to four points, 69-73, to end the third quarter. 

San Beda’s third quarter run carried over to the final quarter of the contest. An exchange of three point baskets from both squads opened the fourth quarter, as the Red Lions and Generals exchanged leads and deadlocks in the first four minutes of the final frame. 

Nine-straight points from Agjanti Miller gave the Red Lions an 87-81 lead that forced an EAC timeout. The Red Lions rallied on with an 18-8 run in the first five minutes of the quarter. San Beda limited the Generals to nine points in the fourth quarter, while scoring 27 markers. 

The fourth quarter run sealed the victory for the Red Lions with a score of 96-82, completing the comeback and securing the top spot of Group B in the classification round. 

Speaking on his offensive dynamic with Miller during the contest against EAC, Sajonia stated “Nung nasa bench kami, kinausap ko siya. Sabi ko, ready lang siya … si Janti, anytime kaya pumutok yan. Pag binigyan mo ng chance ‘yan na makatira, papasok tira niya.”

The victory over EAC also grants Sunday’s rivalry match up against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Knights as a non-bearing contest due to both teams securing bracket positions in the playoffs prior to their contest. 

Gearing up to Sunday’s rivalry contest, Sajonia spoke on the importance of the San Beda-Letran rivalry classic despite no longer having playoff implications. 

“I think important game rin ‘yun para sa amin kasi irivalry. And I think ‘yun mag se-set ng momentum samin going to quarterfinals. Kailangan namin makuha ‘yung panalo,” he said.

Looking to finish the classification round strong, the San Beda Red Lions face the Letran Knights on Sunday, November 23, at 2:30 p.m., at the same venue.  

Quarter Scores: 22-33, 46-54, 69-73, 96-82

San Beda 96 – Sajonia 26, Andrada 17, Miller 17, Reyes 12, Celso 11, Culdora 5, Etulle 3, Gonzales 3, Lina 2

EAC 82– Lucero 14, Ochavo 11, Tolentino 10, Bagay 9, Angeles 7, Castillo 6, Oftana 6, Bacud 6, Lorsito 4, Qunial 3, Jacob 2, Shanoda 2, Postanes 2