Perpetual suffers a third consecutive crunch-time loss, this time against NCAA champion San Beda, to finish the Season 100 first round, while rising Letran nabs the third spot off a Lyceum rout
MANILA, Philippines – Defending NCAA champion San Beda wrapped up its Season 100 run on a high, surviving reeling Perpetual by a point, 63-62, at the FilOil EcoOil Centre on Saturday, October 5.
In a battle of coaching cousins, the Red Lions’ Yuri Escueta prevailed against his kuya Olsen Racela of the Altas, rising to a 5-3 record nearing the end of the first round with their second straight win.
Surging star forward Jomel Puno followed up a dominant 22-point outing against rival Letran with another game-high tally of 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting and 3-of-5 from three to go with 8 rebounds.
Yukien Andrada added 11 points, while RC Calimag scored 10 in just 11 minutes of action as San Beda survived a 13-3 Perpetual finish, capped by a Cedrick Abis triple at the 1:41 mark of the fourth, that turned a 60-49 lead to just 63-62 at the final buzzer.
Abis scored 14 in the heartbreaking loss, the Altas’ third straight crunch-time setback after a triple-overtime defeat to Letran and a 62-64 shortcoming against Lyceum.
Speaking of the two squads, the Letran Knights manhandled the skidding Lyceum Pirates, 78-66, as the latter played their second straight game without star guard Mac Guadaña.
With the win, the scrappy Knights ended their first round with a 6-3 record, just behind top two squads CSB (6-2) and Mapua (6-2), while Lyceum settled to a fifth-place tie with Perpetual at 4-5.
Star guard Jimboy Estrada led the win with team-highs of 19 points and 7 assists to go with 5 rebounds, while defensive dynamo Kevin Santos churned out a 17-point, 11-board double-double with 3 blocks to boot.
John Barba paced the loss with 24 points in just 28 minutes on 8-of-14 shooting to go with 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
The first round wraps up on Tuesday, October 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena with a triple-header featuring top-ranked CSB and underdog JRU at 11 am, finalists San Beda and Mapua at 2:30 pm, and reeling squads EAC and San Sebastian at 5 pm.
The Scores
First Game
San Beda 63 – Puno 16, Andrada 11, Calimag 10, Gonzales 6, Sajonia 6, Estacio 6, Songcuya 4, Royo 3, Celzo 1, Payosing 0, Tagle 0, Lina 0, Bonzalida 0.
Perpetual 62 – Abis 14, Orgo 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Pagaran 8, Boral 6, Nuñez 4, Gelsano 3, Montemayor 3, Manuel 2, Cauguiran 2, Pizarro 0.
Quarters: 13-13, 33-35, 56-48, 63-62.
Second Game
Letran 78 – Estrada 19, Santos 17, Monje 11, Montecillo 9, Javillonar 9, Miller 8, Nunag 3, Cuajao 2, Delfino 0, Jumao-As 0, Baliling 0
Lyceum 66 – Barba 24, Villegas 14, Daileg 9, Montaño 6, Moralejo 4, Paulo 3, Aviles 2, Peñafiel 2, Panelo 2, Cunanan 0, Gordon 0, Pallingayan 0, Caduyac 0.
Quarters: 22-18, 42-38, 57-47, 78-66.
– Rappler.com
