OF course, San Beda had to be on top.
The Red Lions made it a point to grab the no. 1 spot in the ultra-competitive Group A of the NCAA Season 102 men's basketball tournament, getting back at St. Benilde, 82-69, Tuesday at Playtime Filoil Centre in San Juan.
And the defending champions got help from all over in wresting that top spot with rookie Andrei Ugaddan leading the balanced attack with 18 points and five rebounds in the win.
It also cleared the playoff picture with San Beda (10-3), armed with a twice-to-beat advantage, now awaiting its quarterfinal date against the winner of the play-in between Perpetual and San Sebastian.
Idle Jose Rizal U (10-3) gets the no. 2 spot and will have the twice-to-beat incentive versus Group B no. 3 Arellano, while Benilde (8-5) slips down to no. 3 in Group A and will have a twice-to-win disadvantage against Group B no. 2 Emilio Aguinaldo College.
Jimmy Reyes came off the bench and contributed 12 points, two boards, two assists, and two steals, Aldous Torculas only needed 11 points and three rebounds, and JC Bonzalida logged 10 points and eight boards in the comfortable win.
San Beda was quick to assert control of the game, jumping to a 48-28 advantage and used that 20-point cushion to weather a third quarter rally from Benilde and cruise to the conquest.
"More than the top seed, yung top top two spot ang tina-target namin and it's big lalo na in the NCAA na all of the teams can beat you, so it's very important for us," said coach Yuri Escueta.
It also avenged the Red Lions' 77-68 defeat to the Blazers back in opening day, which puts a smile in the face of the champion coach.
"We lost to them first game of the season, so we had to play much better than what we did in the opening."
Justine Sanchez led CSB with 15 points, three rebounds, and three assists, as Jhomel Ancheta had 11 points, three boards, and two dimes in the losing cause.
The Scores:
SAN BEDA 82 -- Ugaddan 18, Reyes 12, Torculas 11, Bonzalida 10, Etulle 8, Jamora 7, Marcelo 6, Jalbuena 4, Lina 3, Puno 2, RC Calimag 1, Estacio 0, Hawkins 0, Dabao 0.
BENILDE 69 -- Sanchez 15, Ancheta 11, Torres 10, Liwag 7, Morales 6, Celis 5, Galas 5, Jucom 4, Moore 2, Lorenzo 2, Cajucom 2, Jarque 0, Podador 0, Arciaga 0.
Quarters: 20-16, 48-30, 62-49, 82-69.
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