The rivalry between the San Beda College Red Lions and the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Knights reached a boiling point Friday afternoon.
The Red Lions were able to claw their way past their rivals, 83-71, to return to the win column and send the Knights to the brink. However, the events that transpired in the post game will have repercussions that will be felt in the following days.
Davon Potts led the Red Lions with 23 points, nine coming from the fourth quarter onslaught, to go along with six rebounds. Fellow rookie Benedict Adamos played his best game of the season with 18 points, nine rebounds, and six blocks.
“It’s a heated rivalry,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin about the heated affair. “It has been going on for the longest time.”
The Red Lions shackled the Knights in the third frame, allowing just a single Letran field goal for eight minutes. The San Beda lead grew to as high as 19 points, 56-37, after a corner three by Potts with 1:54 left in the quarter.
“It was a collective team effort from the day we lost until we won again,” Jarin added.
The Knights, behind the duo of Rey Nambatac and Bong Quinto, tried to battle back in the final frame. The two former Squires went on an 8-0 rally with three minutes left in the game to cut the lead to just 10, 68-58. However, Javee Mocon and Ben Adamos bucked any hope of a Letran hijack.
However, with seven seconds let in the game, the frustrations of the Knights and the pride of a win grew to a boiling point. Quinto was called for an offensive foul after accidentally elbowing Joe Presbitero square on the jaw. There was almost a clearing of both benches with Letran’s Quinto and Jerrick Balanza and San Beda’s Presbitero and Jun Bonsubre at the middle of the melee.
The referees were able to take control but it was not the last confrontation between the two squads.
Bonsubre and fellow Cagayan de Oro-native Luib did not exchange pleasantries in the post-game and almost got into a scuffle once more before they were separated.
“Medyo physical, got a little hot before the end of the game, but that’s just how these two schools compete,” Jarin said. “It’s the competitiveness in both schools.”
“It’s just emotions running high, at least cooler heads prevailed. We don’t want anything like that happening in any sport.”
Javee Mocon added 17 points and 11 rebounds for San Beda.
Team captain Jom Sollano led Letran with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Both Quinto, who scored 18 points, and Nambatac, who added 13 markers, struggled form the field, shooting 6-for-18 and 4-for-13 from the field respectively.
The San Beda Red Lions (T-1st, 11-2) next face the Mapua Cardinals (T-4th, 7-5) on Thursday, September 1 at 4:00pm. The Letran Knights (T-6th, 5-7) need to take their game against the CSB Blazers (10th, 0-12) on Tuesday, August 30 at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC (83) – Potts 23, Adamos 18, Mocon 17, Presbitero 6, Sara 4, Soberano 4, Noah 4, Bonsubre 3, Bolick 2, Tongco 2, Bahio 0, Carlos 0
CSJL (71) – Sollano 18, Quinto 17, Nambatac 13, Balanza 9, Calvo 9, Luib 3, Ambohot 2, Apreku 0, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Pambid 0, Dela Pena 0, Sario 0
Quarterscores: 23-22, 43-32, 56-43, 83-71
