San Beda University moved closer to securing a twice-to-beat advantage in the NCAA Season 102 Seniors Basketball Tournament quarterfinals after fending off a late rally from Lyceum of the Philippines University, 71-65, on Thursday at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
The defending champions extended their winning streak to four games, improving to a 9-3 record and drawing level with José Rizal University at the top of Group A to remain firmly in contention for the crucial quarterfinal incentive.
The Red Lions also now hold the longest active winning streak in the league.
“I think in the fourth quarter, we displayed our identity in our defense and our rebounding. The game is all about possession, so it’s still about being able to stick together as a team and close out and get that win,” said Dan Marcelo, who finished with a season-high 22 points.
Despite entering the second half trailing, San Beda fought its way back, pulling even at 36-all behind Bismarck Lina before Marcelo and Aldous Torculas sparked a 13-2 run to seize a 49-38 lead.
Lyceum refused to back down, but Torculas’ free throws helped the Red Lions maintain a 53-47 advantage heading into the final quarter.
San Beda stretched its lead to double digits in the fourth before back-to-back triples from Khen Caduyac brought the Pirates within striking distance, 65-60, with 2:41 remaining.
Mclaude Guadaña further trimmed the deficit to just two points, 67-65, with a clutch triple down the stretch, putting the defending champions under pressure.
However, Zed Etulle sank a free throw to restore a two-possession cushion. Andrei Ugaddan and Etulle then each split their trips to the charity stripe to give San Beda a 70-65 lead, forcing Lyceum to foul in the closing seconds.
Kyle Jamora sealed the victory at the free-throw line as the Red Lions survived the Pirates’ late rally to claim their fourth consecutive win.
“We had a sluggish first half, so that led to me hitting shots and being able to facilitate, get my teammates open shots. Just being able to do the little things that our team needed,” Marcelo added, after also tallying six assists and four steals.
Torculas contributed 17 points and nine rebounds for San Beda, while Lina chipped in nine points and 14 rebounds.
San Beda will close out the elimination round with a rematch against College of Saint Benilde on November 10 at the same venue, where it will look to formalize its bid for the twice-to-beat advantage.
Meanwhile, Lyceum, which had already secured a place in the play-in round, dropped to 4-7 and saw its hopes of claiming a twice-to-beat advantage disappear. The Pirates are now locked into fifth place regardless of the outcome of their final elimination-round assignment.
Matthew Rubico paced LPU with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, along with five assists, while Jonathan Daileg added 11 points in the losing effort.
The Pirates will wrap up their campaign against their eventual play-in opponents, Mapúa University, on November 9 at the PhilSports Arena.
The Scores:
San Beda 71 — Marcelo 22, Torculas 17, Lina 9, Puno 8, Jamora 4, Etulle 4, Ugaddan 3, Calimag 3, Sarigumba 1, Bonzalida 0, Reyes 0, Estacio 0, Jalbuena 0, Efron 0, Hawkins 0.
Lyceum 65 — Rubico 14, Daileg 11, Guadaña 9, Ondoa 7, Caduyac 6, Villegas 6, Matienzo 4, Peñafiel 3, Fuentes 3, Manuel 2, Aurigue 0, Panelo 0, Pallingayan 0, Cardinas 0, Nocum 0.
Quarterscores: 20-9, 31-33, 53-47, 71-65.
