JUST in case anyone forgot, San Beda is still the most successful men’s basketball team in the NCAA.
Overlooked in the build-up to Season 101, the Red Lions didn’t take long to remind everyone that they are still a force to be reckoned with after taking down perennial favorites College of St. Benilde, 96-85, in their season opener Wednesday at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Janti Miller, Yukien Andrada, and RC Calimag conspired in a 16-5 run to bridge the third and fourth periods, turning a precarious 60-58 lead to a commanding 76–63 lead in the final frame.
It was a lead they padded up to 17, 86-69, before staving off a late rally from the Blazers who trimmed the lead to six, 91-85, but never closer than that.
“Hindi naman sa nagulat ako, but again, last year tinalo kami niyan, Filoil tinambakan kami niyan ng 40 points, so we knew what to expect. I have to give it to my players that they really bought into the preparations coming into this game,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said.
“It’s still a long season. One win doesn’t bring us to the playoffs, one loss doesn’t end our season. Malayo pa ‘to It’s just the first day of the NCAA. But it’s a welcome win for us. Very important especially for our confidence ng team namin,” he added.
Miller lived up to the hype in his NCAA debut as he finished with 16 points and six rebounds off the bench. Bryan Sajonia likewise finished with 16 markers, though he had to shake off an atrocious shooting from beyond-the-arc, going 0-8 from downtown.
Jimmy Reyes added 13 points, five rebounds and two assists while Andrada bucked off a lethargic first half by scoring all of his 11 points in the final two quarters after missing all four of his shots in the first half.
Justine Sanchez led the way for the Blazers as he finished with 24 points while Ian Torres added 13 points.
Reigning MVP Allen Liwag struggled for most of the game, but finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds as his last ditch effort to bring the Blazers back ultimately went to waste.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 96 – Sajonia 16, Miller 16, Reyes 13, Andrada 11, Etulle 9, Gonzales 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Culdora 4, Bonzalida 4, Lina 2, Estacio 0
BENILDE 85 – Sanchez 24, Torres 13, Liwag 12, Ancheta 8, Celis 6, Oli 6, Cometa 4, Cajucom 4, Moore 3, Morales 3, Gaspay 2, Umali 0, Eusebio 0, Daja 0
Quarters: 26-30, 48-45, 71-61, 96-85
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