Another breathtaking face off was shown by San Beda College and Colegio de San Juan de Letran for the top seed in the season 91 men’s basketball of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) with the Red Lions emerging on top, 83-78 Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
This is the tenth straight season for the men in red and white to end up as number one after eliminations, but it was not easy for the team to land on this spot.
“I’ll be lying if [I say] there’s no pressure because, every time you come into a big program like San Beda there will always be pressure,” said by Red Lions coach Jamike Jarin.
Both teams played extremely tight defense as it took more than two minutes to draw the first blood by San Beda’s big man, Ola Adeogun at 8:41 of the first quarter.
Jayvee Mocon was on fire by scoring 13 points in the first half that helped build a 13-0 run for a 15-point San Beda leadlead in the first half. The forward got 16 points total in the end of the game.
Though he is still fresh from injury, defesive guard Dan Sara contributed 12 points, same as Arthur Dela Cruz with 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
In the second half, the Knights tried to close the gap and even tied the game, 78-78 in the last 35 seconds off Mark Cruz’s long triple. He tallied 29 points, four assists, and two rebounds.
Unfazed, San Beda went to their tried-and-tested high-low play to Adeogun, who laid in the two easy baskets that secured the triumph for the Red Lions. The Cameroonian led his team with 21 points and nine rebounds.
“I have to give credit to Letran because they made us do that,” Jarin stated in a post game interview.
San Beda will next face the loser between Mapua Cardinals and JRU Bombers in a playoff for the number three spot next Friday, October 16.
Box Scores:
San Beda (83) – Adeogun 21, Mocon 16, Sara 12, Dela Cruz 12, Tankoua 10, Soberano 4, Koga 3, Amer 3, Cabanag 2, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0, Tongco 0, Sorela 0, Sedillo 0.
Letran (78) – Cruz 29, Racal 17, Sollano 9, Quinto 9, Nambatac 8, Balanza 2, Calvo 2, Luib 2, Apreku 0, Publico 0.
Quarter scores: 17-12, 41-30, 59-48, 83-78.
File photo by Martin San Diego
