San Beda University lost steam down the stretch but still found a way to hack out a 63-62 win over University of Perpetual Help System DALTA in NCAA Season 100 on Saturday.
The Red Lions nearly wasted a double-digit lead but took advantage of ALTAs’ endgame mishaps as they cruised to their first back-to-back wins to improve to 5-3.
The win also saw San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta getting the victory over his cousin Olsen Racela in their first-ever NCAA showdown.
"'Yung mindset lang namin is just whatever happened in the past, we lost to EAC, we lost to Arellano, we won against Letran, sabi ko 'wag n'yo na isipin 'yun," San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
"Let's just focus on the present, which is the Perpetual game and let's try to be the aggressors today and I think our defense was able to hold up."
A pair of free throws from Jomel Puno sent the Red Lions to their biggest lead at 60-49 to open the fourth, but the ALTAS, who were reeling from back-to-back losses to Letran and LPU, refused to just go down without a fight.
Leaning on the core led by Christian Pagaran, John Abis, Shawn Orgo, and Jearico Nunez, Perpetual unleashed a 10-3 rampage before a corner triple from Abis trimmed the deficit to just one, 62-63, in the final 1:41 of the game.
Both teams struggled to convert in the succeeding plays until San Beda transferee Penny Estacio was whistled for a stepping violation that led to a crucial possession to the ALTAs at the 1:22 mark.
JP Boral failed to turn into offense the huge stop made by Orgo on the other end, missing a corner three-pointer over the defense of Puno as San Beda gutted out the victory.
Puno ended up top-scoring the defending champions with 16 points to go with eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal while Yukien Andrada and RC Calimag chipped in 11 and 10 markers apiece.
Abis, on the other hand, paced Perpetual with 14 points while Orgo flirted with a triple-double of 10 markers, 10 dimes, and nine boards as they fell to a 4-5 slate to end the first round.
Scores:
San Beda 63 - Puno 16, Andrada 11, Calimag 10, Gonzales 6, Sajonia 6, Estacio 6, Songcuya 4, Royo 3, Celzo 1, Payosing 0, Tagle 0, Lina 0, Bonzalida 0.
Perpetual 62 - Abis 14, Orgo 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Pagaran 8, Boral 6, Nuñez 4, Gelsano 3, Montemayor 3, Manuel 2, Cauguiran 2, Pizarro 0.
Quarters: 13-13, 33-35, 56-48, 63-62.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
