SAN Beda bounced back from a heartbreaking loss last time around, hacking out a 57-53 win over University of Perpetual Help Friday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The reigning champions got 21 big points from captain Yukien Andrada, built on 5-of-9 shooting from three-point range to get back on the winning track three days after a 64-62 loss to host Lyceum on a game-winning triple by Greg Cunanan.
The Red Lions improved to an 8-4 record for solo third, while also getting a huge morale booster heading to their rematch with last year’s finals opponent Mapua.
“We always try to stay positive even in wins and losses, just to get back on the winning track. It’s early in the second round, but every win is important,” said San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta, who completed a two-game sweep of cousin in Altas mentor Olsen Racela in their head-to-head matchups this season.
“So we move on from that tough loss, focus on Perpetual, and then rest,” he added in anticipation of the huge game his team will have two days from now.
Rookie big Bismarck Lina played in his first game as starter and produced nine points and six rebounds, Jomel Puno had eight, and Penny Estacio got six, including a huge three with 43 seconds remaining that made it a 57-50 Red Lions lead.
“Kailangan naming bumawi. Masakit kasi yung talo namin the last game,” said Andrada, brother of former PBA player Yutien Andrada.
The Altas couldn’t score a fitting follow-up of their 71-61 conquest of Letran in their previous game and fell to a 5-6 card, hurting their bid for a Final Four berth.
Further adding woes to Perpetual was the the shoulder sprain suffered by Shawn Orgo after a hard collission with Emman Tagle just before the halftime break and San Beda leading 29-26.
The Perpetual player was later carried off a stretcher and brought to a nearby hospital.
Rookie Mark Gojo Cruz led Perpetual with 14 points, while Jericho Nunez and Christian Pagaran added 11 and 10, respectively.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 57 - Andrada 21, Lina 9, Puno 8, Estacio 6, Calimag 6, Tagle 4, Sajonia 3, Payosing 0, Bonzalida 0, Tagala 0, Songcuya 0, Celzo 0.
PERPETUAL 53 - Gojo Cruz 14, Nuñez 11, Pagaran 10, Abis 7, Boral 4, Manuel 3, Montemayor 3, Pizarro 1, Orgo 0, Gelsano 0.
Quarters: 8-19; 29-26; 44-38; 57-53.
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.
