By: Bjorn Del Deade
Defending champion San Beda University edged Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 66-64, to bounce back in the NCAA Season 100 Senior Basketball Tournament on Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.
The Red Lions, who lost two out of their last three games, leaned on a career-high performance from Jomel Puno, who tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds to secure the win.
The Red Lions extend their winning streak against Letran to five games, dating back to September 30, 2022.
San Beda started to shift the momentum late in the third quarter, with Bryan Sajonia sparking a 12-0 run that carried into the fourth period.
Sajonia’s four straight points helped the Red Lions snatch the lead, 53-51, entering the final stretch of the game. Despite this surge, Letran was not done yet.
The Knights responded with an 11-3 run, capped off by a pull-up jumper from Kevin Santos, which allowed them to regain the advantage, 62-61, with just 2:30 left in the game.
From there, the contest turned into a back-and-forth battle as Puno and Jimboy Estrada exchanged baskets, putting Letran ahead by one, 64-63.
However, San Beda would not be denied. Sajonia drained a crucial three-pointer with 42.6 seconds remaining to give the Red Lions a 66-64 lead.
In the final moments, Letran had a golden opportunity to tie or take the lead, but Deo Cuajao rushed a three-point attempt with 0.8 seconds left.
He missed the target, sealing the Knights’ fate.
San Beda’s James Payosing ensured the victory by intentionally missing his free throws, allowing the game clock to expire before Letran could regroup.
San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta emphasized the importance of staying focused on the opportunities to win rather than fearing defeat.
“Actually, yung sinabi ko sa players, wag namin isipin yon, kung ano yong resulta kapag natalo. Masyado kasi silang nagwoworry,” Escueta shared. “Sabi ko, ‘Isipin niyo yung opportunity pag manalo,’ ayon yong sabi ko sa kanila. And kita naman – nagpakita ng effort and energy for today.
“Big win for us. The boys grinded out; talagang gusto nila manalo today.”
The game had been tightly contested from the beginning, with the Knights edging the Red Lions 32-30 at halftime, thanks to a 16-10 second-quarter effort.
Midway through the third period, Letran appeared poised to pull away, going on a 12-2 run to establish a 51-41 lead.
Yet San Beda responded immediately, trimming the deficit with an 8-0 run fueled by two three-point plays from Puno. It cut the Knights’ lead to just two points by the end of the quarter, 49-51.
Though Letran made another late push in the fourth quarter, their hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Cuajao’s rushed triple squandered their chance for redemption.
Aside from Puno and Sajonia’s efforts, Joe Celzo, Menard Songcuya, and Yukien Andrade also contributed to San Beda’s offense, helping the team improve to a 4-3 win-loss record.
The Red Lions will look to build on this momentum when they face the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA Altas on October 5, Saturday, at 11:00 AM in the same venue.
For Letran, Kevin Santos led the way with a career-best 18 points and nine rebounds, while Estrada chipped in 16 points and six boards.
Despite the loss, the Knights remain in third place with a 5-4 record.
The Knights will aim to bounce back when they face the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates on October 5 at 2:30 PM.
The Scores:
San Beda 66 – Puno 22, Celzo 8, Sajonia 8, Songcuya 8, Andrada 8, Payosing 6, Tagle 3, Estacio 3, Gonzales 0, Calimag 0, Tagala 0, Royo 0
Letran 64 – Santos 18, Estrada 16, Cuajao 12, Nunag 7, Montecillo 5, Miller 4, Monje 2, Jumao-As 0, Go 0, Dimaano 0, Baliling 0
Quarterscores: 20-16; 30-32; 49-51; 66-64
