IN what could be the only San Beda — Letran game in the NCAA Season 102, the Red Lions made sure to remind their rivals that they still have their number.
In a rematch of last year's finals, the defending champions proved to be the tougher and steadier team down the stretch as it hacked out 74-65 win in overtime, Monday at the Filoil Center in San Juan.
Playing his first official rivalry game in the NCAA, Aldous Torculas made it count as he drained the overtime-sending three-pointer before adding two more from downtown in the extra period as the Red Lions pummeled their rivals to submission in the final five minutes of the game.
"Winowork on ko yung mga shots na yun. Nagkataon lang talaga na sa game na'to kailangan ko talaga ishoot. Very fortunate na sakin napunta yung bola and tinira ko yung tira na yun with confidence," Torculas said while adding that it was his first clutch basket in a game.
It was a back-and-forth affair the get-go with no team leading by double-digits until San Beda's breakaway in overtime.
While the game stayed close, it was actually Letran who looked poised to walk out of this tussle as the victor as the Knights kept their noses ahead up until that booming Torculas three broke the camel's back.
Down by three with less than a possession left, the Red Lions turned to Torculas and he delivered — hitting a long three-pointer over the outstretcehd arms of former teammate Denzil Sison-Walker with five seconds remaining in regulation.
He then spearheaded the knockout run in the extra-period draining two from downtown, hitting two threes in an 11-1 run to kick off the overtime period, with his last three-pointer giving the Red Lions a 72-62 lead with 2:15 remaining.
Torculas finished with 18 points, five rebounds and two blocks while Daniel Marcelo added 10 points. Andrei Uggadan took the challenge of hounding Letran's stars in Titing Manalili and Jimboy Estrada while also coming away with 10 rebounds and eight points in the win.
"We just have to be able to stay true to the habits that we built from the preseason all throughout to the start of the season. Just stay true to what San Beda Red Lions basketball is. I think we were abel to do that defensively. Offensively, we struggled from commiting turnovers and it's something we have to improve on," San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta.
"All of us, we're just looking to improve little by little as the games go by. We're very positive that we'll get to the point on where we want to be."
Estrada led the Knights with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks while Manalili finished with 13 points, eight assists and six steals in his first game back from a wrist injury.
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