San Beda University relied on a Bryan Sajonia-led late run to repulse a familiar comeback attempt from San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 85-75, in the NCAA Season 100 on Saturday.
The prized transferee scored 13 of the Red Lions’ last 19 points en route to a career-high 26 points together with eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block as they returned to the win column with a 2-1 card, recovering from a previous loss to De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
They also halted the hot streak of the Stags, who now fell to a similar 2-1 slate.
Yukien Andrada was also solid from the rainbow country, burying five three-pointers to finish with 21 markers on 5-of-11 from the three-point area laced with 11 boards and one steal while Jomel Puno chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.
"Hats off to San Sebastian, hindi talaga sila hihinto. They won't stop until the final buzzer, kahit lamang ka pa ng 11 points in the last 1:26, hindi sila hihinto maglaro," San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
"But it's something that we prepared for."
However, it was Sajonia who came alive in the endgame amidst the Stags' lethal fourth quarter rampage.
San Sebastian, who was coming off two come-from-behind wins over Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Lyceum of the Philippines University, looked like it would complete another comeback with Raymart Escobido sinking a triple off a Paeng Are steal to cut the deficit to just two, 68-66.
The Stags, however, were unlucky as Are was fouled out with 3:17 still left in the game, leaving San Sebastian without its top scorer and energizer.
San Sebastian continued to pound on the defending champions with Reggz Gabat drawing an and-one play for a 73-70 affair in the final 2:11. Sajonia then retaliated with a booming triple followed by another one from the lefty Richi Calimag, 79-70.
Sajonia pretty much closed it out for the two-peat seeking Red Lions, connecting three freebies to power the victory as they bounced back from a 70-65 loss to the Blazers.
Gabat paced San Sebastian with a team-high 19 points while Are, who previously dropped a career-high and a double-double in their last two games against the Knights and the Pirates, was limited to just nine points, two rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
