After a slow first half, the San Beda College Red Lions turned it around in the second half, turning back arch-rivals Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, 81-74, Thursday evening at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
San Beda roared to their third straight win to go to 4-1 before heading into a 10-day break. Letran, on the other hand, suffered their second straight setback, falling to a 1-3 slate.
Letran has yet to taste victory against San Beda since Game Three of the NCAA Season 91 Finals.
Unlike last season’s second round encounter, the Red Lions and the Knights left all the drama in the court. San Beda were able to make their stand whenever Letran threatened late.
“I just challenged the guys in the locker room to stick with our system, stick with our game plan and play as a team,” said San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez.
With San Beda leading 67-61 with five minutes, free throws by Rey Nambatac and Jeremiah Taladua were able to cut the lead to just two. However, Javee Mocon held the fort down for San Beda, scoring two points and assisting on a Benedict Adamos basket and a Robert Bolick triple — the latter giving San Beda a 74-67 lead with 2:59 remaining.
Jerrick Balanza tried to give life to the Knights but Mocon provided the dagger baskets to seal the win for the Red Lions.
Mocon flirted with a triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, while Bolick played 38 minutes and finished with a game-high 22 points on 8-for-12 shooting to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
Letran led by 10 points early in the second frame, fighting back from a horrid 2-10 start. San Beda heated up in the third frame as AC Soberano scored 11 of his 16 points during that span.
“Hindi rin nag-step up yung second group eh. Medyo bumaba yung energy namin kasi maganda ang start,” admitted Fernandez.
Balanza led four Knights in double-figures, setting his career-high with 20 points. Bong Quinto finished with a double-double, scoring 19 points and grabbing 15 rebounds, while skipper Rey Nambatac added 18 markers.
Though Letran was able to keep pace with San Beda in the rebounding department, the Red Lions’ lethal sniping proved to be the difference, knocking down 10 triples compared to just five for Letran. Moreover, 71 of Letran’s 74 points came from just four student-athletes.
San Beda will next face their tormentors from last season, the JRU Heavy Bombers, on Friday, August 4, at 12:00nn. Letran, on the other hand, take on the Arellano Chiefs on Tuesday, August 1, at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC 81 – Bolick 22, Mocon 17, Soberano 16, Noah 8, Adamos 5, Potts 3, Doliguez 3, Abuda 3, Tankoua 2, Carino 2, Oftana 0, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Bahio 0, Cabanag 0.
CSJL 74 – Balanza 20, Quinto 19, Nambatac 18, Calvo 14, Taladua 2, Ambohot 1, Balagasay 0, Pamulaklakin 0, Bernabe 0, Gedaria 0, Vacaro 0, Mandreza 0, Caralipio 0.
Quarterscores: 15-15, 27-34, 55-50, 81-74.
