REIGNING champion San Beda eked out a thrilling 63-62 win over skidding University of Perpetual Help in the first-ever NCAA match-up pitting coaching cousins Yuri Escueta and Olsen Racela on Saturday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Red Lions established a 60-49 lead to build enough cushion in escaping a huge endgame comeback by the Altas.
Perpetual went on a 13-3 run to threaten the defending men’s basketball champions behind the guns of John Abis, Shawn Orgo, and Christian Pagaran in the final minute.
But Altas rookie Mark Gojo Cruz misfired from long-distance and JP Boral failed to convert on a possible game-winner, allowing the Red Lions to score their second straight win and improve to a 5-3 record in Season 100.
Jomel Puno finished with 16 points and eight rebounds, team captain Yukien Andrada had 11, while RC Calimag added 10 for San Beda, which gave Escueta a 1-0 record in his coaching duel with Racela.
Racela's mother and Escueta's father are siblings, making the two coaches first cousins.
“Kaya nanood si mama ngayon. Gusto niyang panoorin yung pamangkin niya more than ako yata,” said Racela in jest, as his wards suffered a third straight loss and finished the first round with a 4-5 record.
Calimag said the win is a huge morale-booster for the Red Lions going to their first meeting with the Mapua Cardinals this coming week in a rematch of last year’s finals.
“We needed this win para madala namin yung momentum going to the Mapua game,” said the former University of the Philippines wing.
The game also marked the debut of former Batang Gilas member Bismarck Lina with the Red Lions. The former Fighting Maroon, a part of the historic team that won the UAAP Season 84 title, went scoreless and had one rebound in his 12-minute stint on the floor.
Abis led the Altas with 14 points, while Orgo missed out on a rare triple-double with 10 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 63 - Puno 16, Andrada 11, Calimag 10, Gonzales 6, Sajonia 6, Estacio 6, Songcuya 4, Royo 3, Celzo 1, Payosing 0, Tagle 0, Lina 0, Bonzalida 0.
PERPETUAL 62 - Abis 14, Orgo 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Pagaran 8, Boral 6, Nuñez 4, Gelsano 3, Montemayor 3, Manuel 2, Cauguiran 2, Pizarro 0.
Quarters: 13-13; 33-35; 56-48; 63-62.
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.
