The third week of the NCAA Season 100 showed no shortage of top plays and crazy finishes.
The first 100-point outing, an unlikely upset, a triple OT classic— all that and more make up this action-packed edition of the NCAA Siglo Uno: Inspiring Legacies Week in Review.
(G25) Perpetual vs San Sebastian
Perpetual won, 60-52. It was total team effort that propelled the Altas to a wire-to-wire win over the Stags. With team captain Christian Pagaran leading the charge (12 points, nine rebounds, 3 assists) backed up by super rookie Mark Gojo Cruz, Coach Olsen Racela must have been ecstatic to see his platoon jiving early in #NCAA100.
(G26) LPU vs Mapúa
LPU won, 96-81. Host school LPU struggled in the early goings but took charge just in time to steal the W. John ‘Ato’ Barba fired on all cylinders to star anew with 25 points (⅘ threes) and nine rebounds. McLaude Guadana, Greg Cunanan, and Jonathan Daileg also stepped up to the plate and contributed 16, 15, and 14 respectively.
(G27) Arellano vs JRU
JRU won, 92-89. The Heavy Bombers went neck and neck with the Chiefs but ultimately gained a footing late in the fourth, propelled by Joshua Guiab’s 18 points, five rebounds, five assists, and two steals. It’s become a routine for both schools to bring massive and animated crowds to their games, and their first round clash in #NCAA was a clear testament.
(G28) Letran vs EAC
Letran won, 75-73. Collegiate Press Corps POW Kevin Santos served as Letran’s defensive ‘hub’ while putting up an efficient 17 points. He was active on both ends of the floor, playing to his strengths as he racked up six blocks and five rebounds, on top of an all-important steal to seal the deal for the Knights.
(G29) Mapúa vs San Sebastian
Mapùa won, 91-72. The hot shooting of veteran forward Cyrus Cuenco was in full display during their convincing win over the Stags. He tallied 26 points, three rebounds, and three assists, while reigning Rookie-MVP Clint Escamis chipped in 25 points for the Cardinals.
(G30) LPU vs DLS-CSB
DLS-CSB won, 103-78. The Blazers put their pedal to the metal as they ended the Pirates' three-game win streak in ‘centennial’ fashion– becoming the first team in #NCAA100 to score at least 100 markers in a single game. The mighty Allen Liwag continued to pace DLS-CSB with an all-around showing: 22 points, 12 rebounds, and a block.
(G31) San Beda vs Arellano
Arellano won, 72-70. The Arellano faithful erupted in jubilation as the Chiefs stunned the defending champions in a back-and-forth thriller. Ernjay Geronimo showed the way for the Chiefs, scattering 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, but not without valuable contributions from T-MC Ongotan and JL Capulong.
(G32) Perpetual vs Letran
Letran won, 82-73. Do not be deceived by the nine-point margin because Letran needed three extra periods to outlast Perpetual in an instant #NCAA100 classic. Deo Cuajao drained five huge three-pointers en route to 19 points, five rebounds, and three assists to lead the Knights’ escape.
(G33) JRU vs Mapúa
Mapúa won, 88-81. The Cardinals took charge and controlled the pace of the game early, just enough to weather a familiar fourth quarter storm by the Heavy Bombers. Keeping Clint Escamis engaged was key for Mapúa, as the reigning MVP collected 19 points, four boards, and two assists.
(G34) EAC vs LPU
EAC won, 90-88. The Generals came out of the gate firing and finished strong to pull out a close win against the Pirates. King Gurtiza led with 21 points, none bigger than his game-tying stepback three and a pair of game-winning freethrows to get the best player nod in emphatic style.
TEAM STANDINGS (as of September 30, 2024)
- 5-1 Benilde Blazers
- 5-2 Mapúa Cardinals
- 5-2 Letran Knights
- 4-3 Perpetual Altas
- 3-3 San Beda Red Lions
- 3-4 EAC Generals
- 3-4 LPU Pirates
- 2-5 JRU Heavy Bombers
- 2-5 Arellano Chiefs
- 2-5 San Sebastian Stags
IMPACT PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
It was only a matter of time before Kevin Santos was due for a breakout week.
The Collegiate Press Corps NCAA Player of the Week averaged 14.5 markers and 10 boards, to go along with 5.5 blocks and 1.5 steals in two games.
He was the Knights’ top performer during their win over the EAC Generals, as he seemed extremely comfortable playing to his strengths on both ends of the floor.
He had five denials and two steals on top of 15 boards in their triple OT win over the Altas.
His defensive capabilities were irreplaceable as the Knights marched on to a 5-2 record.
King Gurtiza entered the centennial season with the promise of bringing EAC to its first ever Final Four appearance.
It was all business for Gurtiza in week three of #NCAA100, as his arsenal of offensive weapons continued to be pivotal for the Generals. He averaged 20 points in two games, almost single-handedly carrying his team’s scoring in both outings.
A game-tying triple, two clutch free throws, and the dub against LPU were a fitting conclusion to Gurtiza’s stellar week.
Seasoned senior Christian Pagaran wasn’t always the loudest contributor for the Altas, but he has definitely been taking his co-captaincy to the next level.
He was steadier and more serviceable than ever, norming 11 points, five rebounds, and two dimes to help the Altas achieve a winning record entering the last week of the first round of elimination games.
During the Altas' big win over the Stags, Pagaran flirted with a double-double after finishing with 12 points and nine rebounds.
