Jomel Puno and Yukien Andrada joined forces again to propel surging San Beda University to an 86-72 victory against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA Season 99 on Sunday.
The Red Lions extended their winning streak to four to improve to 7-2 and claim solo second in the team standings.
The Generals, meanwhile, dropped to 5-4.
After back-to-back stellar games, Puno was already near a double-double mark at the end of the first half that saw San Beda ahead by six, 44-38.
Andrada then caught fire in the third, burying three baskets before a Damie Cuntapay triple to end the frame sent San Beda to a comfortable 72-52 cushion.
The Generals, though, didn’t go down without a fight.
They cut that huge deficit to 11 with guards Joshua Tolentino and Ralph Robin anchoring their offense early in the fourth, 64-75.
They cut that huge deficit to 11 with guards Joshua Tolentino and Ralph Robin abchoring their offense the offense early in the fourth, 64-75.
The momentum then swung back to the Red Lions when Jacob Cortes fired a long bolmb to power an 8-0 run for another double-digit lead at 83-64.
Puno finished with another double-double outing---his third straight---as he tallied 11 points and 12 rebounds alongside one steal while Clifford Jopia also had a similar stat line with 11 markers and 11 boards laced with two assists.
Jacob Cortez top-scored San Beda with 17 points and three assists while Yukien Andrada finished with 14 markers, three rebounds, one steal, and one block.
San Beda will open its second round campaign on Friday against the skidding Arellano University while EAC takes on San Sebastian on Tuesday.
Scores:
San Beda 86- Cortez 17, Andrada 14, Jopia 11, Puno 11, Cuntapay 8, Tagle 7, Payosing 7, Royo 4, Gonzales 3, Visser 2, Llanera 2, Gallego 0, Tagala 0, Lopez 0.
EAC 72- Robin 22, Gurtiza 10, Cosejo 9, Ochavo 8, Tolentino 6, Maguliano 4, Angeles 4, Cosa 2, Quinal 2, Umpad 2, Dominguez 2, Bacud 1, Balowa 0, Luciano 0, Loristo 0.
Quarterscores: 24-20; 44-38; 72-52; 86-72
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
