By: Leiniel Santos
San Beda University seized the solo No. 1 spot with a perfect 3-0 record after edging last season’s runners-up, the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, 83-80, in the NCAA Season 100 Juniors Basketball Tournament at the EAC Gym in Manila.
San Beda built a commanding 21-point lead in the second quarter, which proved crucial as Perpetual mounted a comeback in the third.
The Junior Altas trimmed the deficit to just two points with 1:32 remaining in the game. However, a clutch jumper from Red Cub Francis Dollente — followed by a crucial free throw from Perpetual’s Jan Pagulayan — pushed the lead back to three.
Perpetual had one last chance to force overtime, but Icee Callangan’s three-point attempt rimmed out, sealing the win for San Beda.
Despite their unbeaten record, Red Cubs head coach Miko Roldan remained cautious about their standing in the tournament.
“It’s still early to think about seeding ngayon. 3-0, pero dikit-dikit pa ‘yung standing eh. Kahit sino nga dito kaya kaming talunin, so wala pa kaming reason para mag-celebrate,” he said.
MJ Vailoces led San Beda with 24 points, seven rebounds, and an assist, while Francis Dollente added 18 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
For Perpetual, Lebron Daep recorded a double-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists, while Jan Roluna contributed 11 points, nine rebounds, and an assist.
Meanwhile, the Arellano University Braves bounced back from a loss to the Red Cubs with a dominant 95-74 victory over the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Staglets.
They improved their standing to 2-1 while creating a four-way tie with the EAC–ICA Brigadiers, the JRU Light Bombers, and the La Salle Green Hills Greenies.
Arellano took early control, turning an eight-point first-quarter lead into a double-digit advantage in the opening minute of the second, 23-12.
San Sebastian’s Sanlea Penaverde tried to rally his team, keeping the Staglets within striking distance, 28-17, at halftime. However, Arellano never allowed them to tie the game, instead extending their lead to as much as 23 points before closing out the win.
Coming off a tough loss, Braves head coach Jun Cuevas emphasized the importance of stepping up their performance.
“Galing kami sa talo kaya sabi ko sa mga bata, kailangan natin mag-level up at manalo… Kailangan every game, 101% tayo maglalaro,” he said.
Johnray Ladica led the Braves with 23 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Ray Yusi added 18 points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Aaron Manansala contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, and Laurence Pillas chipped in 10 points, one assist, and two steals.
Despite Penaverde’s game-high 24 points, six rebounds, and three assists, along with Bienne Marasigan’s 14 points, two rebounds, and four assists, the Staglets couldn’t complete a comeback.
Now at 0-3, San Sebastian will continue searching for their first win when they face Perpetual on Tuesday, March 2, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The Scores:
Fourth game
SBU 83 – Vailoces 24, Dollente 18, Winters 8, Batongbakal 8, Wagan 7, Medroso 5, Tauber 4, Mondigo 4, Reroma 3, San Juan 2, Garcia 0
UPHSD 80 – Daep 16, Roluna 11, Rosales 9, Pagulayan 9, Tabbuan 8, Corpuz 8, Borja 7, Cristino 7, Baldoria 0, Velasquez 0, Zanoria 0
Quarterscores: 15-26, 37-50, 61-65, 83-80
Fifth game
AU 95 – Ladica 23, Yusi 18, Manansala 14, Pillas 10, Franco 9, Dy 8, Vergara 4, Mendoza 3, Austria 2, Guiral 2, Baluyot 2, Aurita 0, Ferriols 0, Pangilinan 0
SSCR 74 – Penaverde 24, Marasigan 14, Gunting 6, Ynot 7, Victoria 5, Rodriguez 4, Jimenez 4, Herrera 4, Melano 4, Apostol 2, Haji Casan 1, Candare 0, Rosales 0, Velasquez 0
Quarterscores: 20-12, 45-33, 65-49, 95-74
