Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
2 p.m. — Arellano vs Mapua
4 p.m. — San Sebastian vs Letran
Jomel Puno’s double-double performance lifted San Beda University past University of Perpetual Help System Dalta, 62-60, for its second straight win in Season 99 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan yesterday.
With 5:15 left in the fourth quarter, Puno, who had 12 points and 17 rebounds, took over and went on a 6-3 run to give the Red Lions a 62-58 lead with 36 seconds remaining.
Marcus Nitura tried to steal the game for the Altas after sinking a layup with three seconds remaining to cut the lead to two, 60-62, but wasn’t able to convert from way out as the clock expired.
San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta was happy with how his players responded after a dismal first half.
“We started flat and we let them dictate the tempo and the physicality. But in the second half, they finally woke up,” said Escueta, who is coming back after a one-game suspension last week.
“I liked how we picked up defensively, especially during the last two minutes of the third quarter. They really helped one another to make crucial stops in the fourth quarter.”
Peter Alfaro scored nine points for San Beda with Naygel Gonzales and Oliver Tagle both tallying eight points each as the Lions improved to a 5-2 record.
Nitura also had a double-double effort with 15 points and 10 rebounds but it wasn’t enough as the Altas sank to a 3-5 slate at eighth place.
