Games today:
(Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 p.m. EAC vs Saint Benilde
3 p.m. San Sebastian vs Perpetual
San Beda University finally got back at defending champion Letran College after an arduous three-year wait as the Red Lions came back from 17 points down to down the Knights, 76-68, yesterday in Season 98 National Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
The victory was made possible by James Kwekuteye and JB Bahio, who shone at crunch time.
Letran had a 70-68 lead when Bahio scored on a layup and Kwekuteye darned two free throws to put the game out of reach with 32.7 ticks to go.
Kwekuteye wound up with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds while Bahio backed him up with 16 points and 13 boards.
“It’s always nice to win a rivalry game, regardless of where it is. The community is happy and it’s a good experience for everyone,” said Escueta, who is in his first year as head coach for the Red Lions.
Kurt Reyson fired 20 points but it wasn’t enough as the Knights dropped their first game against San Beda since Game 2 of the Season 95 best-of-three finals in November 2019.
For Letran head coach Bonnie Tan, the only way to get over the loss is to move forward.
“We always insist to them that we have to learn from this game. We might have lost but we need to keep moving forward,” said Tan, who played without Brent Paraiso and Louie Sangalang due to a one-game suspension.
Earlier, Jose Rizal University outlasted Mapua University in overtime, 67-64.
Joshua Guiab had a double-double game of 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Heavy Bombers with Marwin Dionisio providing solid backup with 15 points as they picked up their third straight win of the season.
Holding a precious 63-62 lead in overtime, Agem Miranda sank a fadeaway jumper before Dionisio buried a couple of free throws to establish a five-point cushion, 67-62, with one minute and 35 seconds remaining.
Rence Nocum scored a layup with 1:15 minutes left in the game but that proved to be the Cardinals’ final shot of the game.
Joaquin Garcia’s desperate three-point attempt with a second remaining bounced off the rim.
Brian Lacap’s 13 points couldn’t save Mapua from absorbing its fifth straight loss in Season 98.
First game:
JRU (67) — Guiab 17, Dionisio 15, Miranda 13, Sy 8, Gonzales 8, Amores 2, Celis 2, Medina 2, Delos Santos 0, Arenal 0, Dela Rosa 0, Villarin 0, Joson 0.
MAPUA (64) — Lacap 13, Bonifacio 9, Nocum 8, Gamboa 7, Hernandez 6, Garcia 6, Pido 5, Agustin 5, Soriano 3, Salenga 2, Igliane 0, Parinas 0.
QUARTERS: 19-14, 36-36, 50-47, 60-60, 67-64.
Second game:
SAN BEDA (76) — Kwekuteye 17, Bahio 16, Alfaro 13, Ynot 7, Visser 6, Cortez 5, Cuntapay 5, Andrada 5, Jopia 2, Cometa 0, Tagala 0.
LETRAN (68) — Reyson 20, Caralipio 17, Yu 17, Javillonar 8, Monje 4, Olivario 2, Santos 0, Tolentino 0, Guarino 0, Miclat 0.
QUARTERS: 16-33, 42-43, 57-55, 76-68.
