By ANGELO JACINTO
SAN Beda was assured of the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Season 99 semifinals regardless of the result of its final game in the elimination round.
But they definitely did not play like it.
Facing old nemesis Letran, the Red Lions pounced on the chance to kick their down-trodden rivals one last time this season — turning back the late rally from the Knights 77-68 last Friday at the Filoil Eco Oil Center in San Juan.
Blazing finish for San Beda
Jacob Cortez drained the Red Lions’ last five points, including a contested stepback three-pointer with 38.9 seconds left to give the Red Lions a 77-68 lead and douse cold water on the late uprising from the Knights.
With the victory, the Red Lions ended the season with a 12-6 record and all the momentum in the world — having won their last four games entering their date with the second-seeded Lyceum this Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Yun nga sabi nga ni coach kanina na we play every game to win. May sinasabi sila na rest your starters but we’re trying to build momentum going to the Final Four since di na kami twice to beat, twice to win na kami,” Cortez said.
“I think after this win, mataas ang morale namin, andyan ang confidence namin so it’s a good win today.”
After a close opening period, the Red Lions started to create separation in the middle quarters with Cortez, Jomel Puno and Clifford Jopia conspiring to lead an attack that hiked their lead to as many as 17 points.
Cortez leads San Beda
The Knights wouldn’t go away without a fight, though, as Jay Garupil and Kobe Monje conspired in a late fourth-quarter rally. Garupil’s lay-up trimmed the lead to a single possession, 71-68 with 1:52 remaining.
But that only set up the carpet for Cortez’ late-game heroics as he hit two tough jumpers late to finish off their rivals
Cortez finished with 17 points and three assists, while Puno added 15 points and six rebounds and two steals.
Monje led the Knights with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the Knights ended their nightmare campaign with a 2-16 record - the worst in the school’s storied history.
The scores:
San Beda 77 - Cortez 17, Puno 15, Jopie 11, Andrada 10, Cuntapay 9, Alfaro 6, Payosing 4, Tagle 3, Visser 2, Gonzales 0, Royo 0, Gallego 0
Letran 68 - Monje 17, Cuajao 15, Ariar 13, Garupil 8, Santos 7, Go 3
Quarters: 14-16, 41-33, 60-48, 77-68
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