Lions escape Blazers, Knights down Stags in Season 89 opener
San Beda forward Rome de la Rosa drives to the basket against Benilde guard Paolo Taha in their NCAA Season 88 seniors basketball match on Saturday. (FCF / Martin San Diego)
It seemed like the ball was pulled by a magnet.
Without a blink, Rome de la Rosa threw a cross-court inbound pass right on the hands of a wide-open Arthur Dela Cruz as the veteran Red Lion forward banked in a layup as reigning champions San Beda College broke the hearts of season hosts and erstwhile doormats De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 71-70, in Saturday’s NCAA Season 89 opening day at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“It was a well-crafted play, ako ang first option… quick two lang talaga sa ilalim,” narrated Dela Cruz, who led the three-time defending champs with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
It seemed to be another day at the office for San Beda, erecting double-digit leads multiple times in the game anchored on a 10-0 start, but the Blazers, now led by Mark Romero and Paolo Taha, came back from a ten-point deficit halfway in the fourth quarter with an 8-0 run to come close at 61-63.
De la Cruz and Baser Amer conspired for a comfortable 67-61 lead in the ensuing plays but a three-point play by Blazer center Roberto Bartolo and a trey by Romero pushed Benilde within one, 67-68.
After a split by Amer from the free-throw line, Blazer rookie coach Gabby Velasco designed a play for newcomer forward Jose Saavedra, who sank his third three-pointer of the game as the Blazers grabbed the lead for the first time in the game, 70-69, with 4.7 seconds left.
(FCF / Diego de la Paz)
After San Beda’s final timeout, the Red Lions executed the perfect play.
“I looked at Arthur’s eyes… he is our best finisher from under the basket,” de la Rosa said about his inbound pass.
“It would be embarrasing if we lost.”
Aside from de la Cruz, Amer chipped in nine points, 11 rebounds, and six assists while Dela Rosa added 10 points.
The Blazers, meanwhile, were led by Romero with 19 points and 8 rebounds, with Taha adding 15 points and six rebounds.
In the second game, last year’s runners-up Colegio de San Juan de Letran won its fifth straigth game in the last two season against San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 74-69.
Now led by last season’s best defensive player Raymond Almazan, the Intramuros-based squad dominated the shaded lane with 51 rebounds and six blocks.
The Knights maintained poise in the fourth quarter through rebounding and transition defense despite a scoring blitz by surprise Stag sixth man John Ortuoste to open a 11-0 run to open the fourth quarter.
Almazan led the Knights with 15 points, 20 rebounds, and five blocks.
Ortuoste scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter to lead the Stags comeback, while Bradwyn Guinto put up 17 points and 14 rebounds in a losing cause during his NCAA debut.
BOX SCORES
First game
SAN BEDA (71): Dela Cruz 16, Adeogun 11, de la Rosa 10, Amer 9, Koga 8, Mendoza 4, D. Semerad 4, Abarcar 3, Ludovice 2, Pascual 2, A. Semerad 2
BENILDE (70): Romero 19, Taha 15 Ongteco 10, Saavedra 10, Bartolo 9, Argamino 3, Garcia 2, Sinco 2, Carlos 0, Deles 0, Grey 0, Jonson 0
QUARTERS: 22-12, 38-28, 57-48, 71-70
Second game
LETRAN (74): Almazan 15, Ruaya 11, Nambatac 13, Cruz 12, Racal 7, Gabawan 6, Luib 6, Castro 2, Publico 2, Dysam 0
SAN SEBASTIAN (69): Guinto 17, Ortuoste 16, Perez 9, Dela Cruz 9, Rebollos 7, De Vera 6, Gusi 3, Tano 2, Magno 0
QUARTERS: 17-17, 36-35, 58-50, 74-69
