By: Jerod Orcullo
Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Malayan High School kept pace with league leader University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, both securing wins in the NCAA Season 100 Juniors Basketball, Wednesday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
Letran outlasted archrival San Beda-Rizal, 71-64, in a thrilling affair that added another chapter to their rich and historic rivalry.
Meanwhile, Malayan pulled off a dominating 76-58 victory against Lyceum of the Philippines University, a squad still searching for its first win in six games.
With their respective victories, the Squires and the Red Robins both improved to a 4-2 record, tying for second place with the EAC Brigadiers.
The two teams are behind University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, which holds a 5-1 record.
Jhuniel Dela Rama delivered another double-double performance for the Squires, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Arwin Alforque also posted a double-double, contributing 12 points and 10 boards, while Daniel Padilla added 11 points, four rebounds, and three steals.
Both teams fought to overcome sizable deficits in the first half, exchanging scoring runs and defensive stops. The Red Cubs managed to eke out a two-point lead heading into the break, 31-29.
With less than four minutes left in the third quarter, San Beda looked poised to blow the game wide open as Francis Dollente sank back-to-back triples, extending the lead to a comfortable 50-37 advantage with one quarter remaining.
However, when the game was on the line, the defending champions tightened their defense, holding the Red Cubs to single digits while scoring 21 points of their own in the final frame.
“Ang ganda nung depensa nung mga bata, grabe noh, all I’m trying to control is yung iniisip lang rivalry. Pagka-yun yung iniisip mo, medyo nag-oover-hyped yung bata, nanggigigil, puro reactions,” said Squires head coach Willie Miller.
“Sabi ko hindi, isang game lang ‘to na kalaban natin sa NC, then after ng laro siguro dun natin maaano yung rivalry.”
Tensions flared during the contest, particularly in the second quarter, when Padilla was assessed a technical foul for taunting after a fastbreak layup over San Beda’s Joaquin Wagan.
San Beda’s Andrei Ugaddan recorded a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds, followed by Dollente, who scored 17 points on four triples, and MJ Vailoces, who posted 10 points and eight boards.
San Beda dropped to a tie with Arellano University and La Salle Green Hills, all having a 3-3 record.
In the Malayan-Lyceum game, Del Poso spearheaded the Red Robins with 15 points, four rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while seniors Sean Salvador and Dwyne Miranda added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Malayan controlled the game from start to finish, as Lyceum had no answers for the Red Robins’ offensive onslaught. Malayan scored 39 points from the perimeter and converted 19 points off turnovers.
Led by Del Poso’s four three-pointers, Malayan converted a total of 11 shots from beyond the arc on a 32.4% clip.
“Before this game, ang sinabi ko sakanila, etong klaseng game na ‘to is mate-test yung character mo. Kung gusto niyong maging champion dapat yung mga ganitong klaseng games, dito lalabas yung maturity niyo,” said Red Robins head coach John Ross Dela Cruz.
With games against Jose Rizal University, Emilio Aguinaldo College, and San Sebastian remaining in their schedule, Dela Cruz emphasized that this same mindset must apply in their upcoming contests as they push for a Final Four placement.
For Lyceum, Lucas Pena scored 15 points with three rebounds, while Joss Poli contributed 15 points and grabbed six boards in the losing effort.
The Junior Pirates remain winless and are at the bottom of the standings, ranked last behind Jose Rizal University and San Sebastian, both with 2-4 records.
The Scores:
Fourth Game:
CSJL 71 – Dela Rama 20, Alforque 12, Padilla 11, Silorio 7, Cargo 5, Valdeavilla 4, Hugo 4, Cruz 3, Quinones 2, Lumague 2, Villanueva 1, Danan 0, Paguio 0, Quijada 0, Magcale 0.
SBU 64 – Ugaddan 20, Dollente 17, Vailoces 10, Wagan 5, Tauber 4, Reroma 2, San Juan 2, Batongbakal 2, Winters 2, Medroso 0, Garcia 0, Jomalesa 0, Mondigo 0, Feliciano 0.
Quarterscores: 13-15, 29-31, 50-57, 71-64
Fifth Game:
MHS 76 – Del Poso 15, Salvador 12, Miranda 11, Laurenaria 10, Reyes 7, Duque 5, Bernabe 4, Banal 3, Coronel 3, Loriaga 2, Tagocon 2, Catapang 2, Rodriguez 0, Tolentino 0, Dimafelix 0.
LPU 58 – Pena 15, Poli 15, Julio 8, Panerio 6, Dag-um 4, Altamirano 4, Conde 2, Abrantes 2, Nolado 1, Mercado 1, Araneta 0, Lontok 0, Melchor 0, Omelio 0.
Quarterscores: 23-15, 42-26, 66-37, 76-58
