BY GWEN BERGADO
LETRAN kicked off its three-peat bid on a high, while San Beda survived a thriller in a busy opening day of the NCAA Season 100 juniors basketball tournament on Monday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Behind Jhuniel Dela Rama’s 14-point and 11-board outing, the Squires dominated Muralla neighbor Lyceum Junior Pirates, 63-45, breaking away in the second half for the promising opening day victory.
Syrex Silorio provided ample help to the defending champions with 12 points while the Junior Pirates were paced by Cleafford Dag-um and Zyren Panerio who registered 12 and 10, respectively.
Red Cubs survive Brigadiers in a thriller
The Red Lions, on the other hand, staved off a determined EAC-IAC Brigadiers squad, taking a 77-75 overtime win in the final game of the day.
Andrei Ugaddan led the way for San Beda with 16 points but it was MJ Vailoces who turned out to be the hero for the Red Cubs, scoring consecutive baskets to open the overtime period, to take control for good.
Francis Dollente added 13 while Randaile Medroso chipped in 11 for the proud program who’s looking to return to the final four after missing out last season.
Ian Cuajao’s monster double-double of 31 points and 10 boards went down the drain in the loss.
Thanks to a big third quarter hustle, Perpetual eked out a come-from-behind 86-80 escape against the gritty Mapua University.
Last season’s mythical team member Lebron Jhames Daep finished with 20 points and nine boards in the win.
Also starting their season on the right footing is Arellano University, after carving out a 85-69 decision over Jose Rizal University.
Ray Yusi and Shawn Vergara paced the Braves with 15 markers, giving the team a positive outlook for this season after winning a grand total of one game in the previous year.
Meanwhile, Guillia Quines and James Ison dropped 22 and 20 respectively to save La Salle Greenhills against San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 82-79.
First game
LETRAN 63— Dela Rama 14, Silorio 12, Hugo 8, Quinones 5, Alforque 5, Padilla 4, Cruz 4, Reyes 4, Valdeavilla 3, Magcale 3, Villanueva 1,Quijada 0, Lumague 0, Cargo 0, Danan 0
LYCEUM 45— Dag-um 12, Panerio 10, Melchor 5, Abrantes 4, Creus 4, Enguio 3, Pena 3, Conde 2, Poli 2, Lontok 0, Pelayo 0, Julio 0
Quarters: 15-10, 23-19, 44-33, 63-45
Second game
PERPETUAL 86— Daep 20, Roluna 18, Callangan 11, Cristino 10, Velasquez 7, Baldoria 7, Rosales 5, Pagulayan 3, Borja 2, Corpuz 2, Tabbuan 1, Nitura 0
MAPUA 80— Banal 21, Miranda 14, Salvador 13, Rodriguez 9, Duque 7, Bernabe 6, Del Poso 6, Bagro 4, Reyes 0, Loriaga 0, Laurenaria 0, Catapang 0, Tolentino 0, Gragasin 0
Quarters: 22-27, 41-44, 74-59, 86-80
Third game
ARELLANO 85— Yusi 15, Vergara 15, Franco 12, Baluyot 10, Mendoza 9, Ladica 8, Aurita 4, Manansala 3, Distrito 3, Pillas 2, Guiral 2, Tagorda 2, Dy 0, Pangilinan 0, Pascual 0
JRU 69— Almario 18, Satparam 10, Abequibel 8, Pinzon 8, Castillo 7, Marin 6, Tolworthy 6, Callueng 3, Quilban 2, Ferrer 1, To 0, Correa 0, Lacusong 0, Taparan 0
Quarters: 17-20, 41-32, 64-46, 85-69
Fourth game
LSGH 82 — Penaverde 22, Bonus 20, Jimenez 13, Marasigan 10, Ynot 7, Herrera 5, Apostol 1, Casan 1, Rodriguez 0, Rosales 0, Melano 0, Gunting 0
SSCR 79 — Quines 22, Ison 20, Gomez 13, Sharma 10, Podador 7, Abad 5, Yutuc 1, Ortega 1, Peralta 0, Osis 0, Gonzales 0, Tud 0
Quarters: 22-14, 34-44, 57-66, 82-79
Fifth game
SAN BEDA 77— Ugaddan 16, Dollente 13, Medroso 11, Batongbakal 9, Vailoces 9, Reroma 5, San Juan 5, Winters 4, Garcia 3, Wagan 2, Jomalesa 0, Feliciano 0, Mondigo 0
EAC 75 — Cuajao 31, Castillo 17, Bonus 8, Coronel 8, Luna 4, Lanceta 2, Jumbo 2, Jawali 2, Iraham 1, Bautista 0, Canonigo 0, Campana 0, Taganas 0, Razo 0
Quarters: 23-23, 37-37, 57-51, 68-68, 77-75
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
