SAN Beda shot the lights out and stopped Letran's nine-game win streak with a 91-77 drubbing in the NCAA Season 98 seniors basketball tournament on Wednesday at Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Damie Cuntapay shot 4 of 4 from deep, finishing with 16 points and five rebounds. His three-pointer at the 7:15 mark of the third quarter gave the Red Lions a 22-point lead.
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San Beda shot 14 of 31, 45-percent from beyond the arc.
It was an anticlimactic result to this rivalry game, and the Red Lions kept their hopes for a twice-to-beat incentive alive at 11-5.
"It's us getting a better shot in the playoffs. Playing Letran really brings out the best in our players. Hats off to them for being composed at focused kami sa laro. We played smarter than ever before," said coach Yuri Escueta.
San Beda completed a sweep of Letran in the elimination-round matchups after taking a 76-68 win on Sept. 30.
James Kwekuteye paced the Red Lions with 19 points built on four triples, to go with seven boards and two assists, while JB Bahio had 10 points, 12 rebounds, and four assists.
Yukien Andrada had 15 points and three boards, and Gab Cometa shot 2-of-6 from distance, finishing with 10 points. San Beda had a sizzling 15-3 start in the second quarter for a 37-22 lead.
San Beda had a response to every Letran rally, with Jacob Cortez, Cometa, and Andrada all nailing big baskets down the stretch to fend off the Knights.
Caralipio led Knights with 14 points, seven rebounds, and two assists as his bucket in the final 7:18 got them to within 13, 74-61, but that was the closest they got.
Reyson added 11 points and four boards before getting ejected for two technical fouls with 8:28 left.
Fran Yu also collected 10 points, three rebounds, and three assists to fall to 12-4.
The scores:
San Beda 91 - Kwekuteye 19, Cuntapay 16, Andrada 15, Bahio 10, Cometa 10, Ynot 8, Cortez 5, Sanchez 3, Alfaro 3, Visser 2, Jopia 0, Payosing 0.
Letran 77 - Caralipio 14, Reyson 11, Yu 10, Sangalang 8, Paraiso 8, Guarino 8, Monje 6, Olivario 5, Ariar 3, Javillonar 2, Tolentino 2, Go 0, Santos 0.
Quarterscores: 22-19; 50-33; 71-52; 91-77.
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