By: Joaquin Cortez
San Beda certainly knows how to claw its way out of trouble.
The Red Lions are now one step closer to basketball glory after edging their archrival, the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights, 89-70, moving closer to the NCAA Season 101 seniors basketball title on Wednesday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
Janti Miller was ejected at the 6:15 mark of the fourth quarter after committing his second “flop.”
Under NCAA house rules, an ejection results in an automatic one-game suspension, regardless of whether the fouls are technical or unsportsmanlike.
Despite his exit, San Beda remained composed and in control of the game.
With the victory, San Beda is just one win away from its 24th crown in the sport, fueled by Bryan Sajonia, who led the Red Lions with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists. San Beda can capture the championship on Saturday at the same venue.
The rivalry between San Beda and Letran is one of the league’s most storied.
The teams split their group-stage series: San Beda survived the first meeting, 68-58, before Letran’s Titing Manalili erupted for a career-high 26 points to hand the Red Lions an 87-83 loss in the second encounter.
Last season, San Beda fell short of the title, losing to the St. Benilde Blazers in the Final Four.
“We just have to take better shots and take care of the ball. ‘Yon ‘yong nag-usap kami noong halftime. So just to simplify things, be more composed, just be stronger with it,” San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta said of their second-half surge. “And good thing, ‘yong half-court defense namin na held up din in the third quarter.”
San Beda came out firing to open the game, with Nygel Gonzales’ coast-to-coast bonus conversion fueling a commanding 22-9 start. Letran tried to stay within striking distance, but a Recaredo Calimag steal and layup off an inbound play gave San Beda a 10-point cushion, 29-19.
Manalili, who started the game off the bench, scored nine points in the second quarter to help Letran come within three at halftime, 46-43.
Both teams struggled to find the basket in the third quarter before Anfernee Estacio’s fastbreak layup sparked an 18-4 run, reestablishing a 17-point San Beda lead, 64-47. Estacio’s 3-pointer in the closing seconds extended the Red Lions’ advantage to 20 entering the final period, 68-48.
Letran mounted one final run as Kevin Santos scored a layup to cut the lead to 14, 72-58.
Despite Miller’s suspension, San Beda put the game away when Daniel Cuenzo hit a layup with two minutes remaining, sealing the 88-70 victory.
For San Beda, Miller finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, and two assists, followed by Gonzales with 14 points and five assists.
Manalili, who fouled out with 5:20 remaining in the fourth, contributed 17 points, five assists, and four steals in 28 minutes for Letran.
Meanwhile, Jimboy Estrada added 14 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while June Roque scored 12. Deo Cuajao struggled on the biggest stage, scoring only two points on 1-of-10 shooting.
The Scores:
San Beda 89 – Sajonia 17, Miller 16, Gonzales 14, Reyes 8, Estacio 8, Calimag 7, Puno 6, Celzo 6, Andrada 5, Lina 2, Etulle 0.
Letran 70 – Manalili 17, Estrada 14, Roque 12, Santos 6, Gammad 6, Omega 4, Cuajao 2, Buensalido 2, Tapenio 2, Montecillo 2, Yusi 2, Gazzingan 1, Rosilio 0.
Quarterscores: 29-19, 46-43, 68-48, 89-70.
