by Kevin Estrada
QUEZON CITY – San Beda University made a massive statement against its archrivals Colegio de San Juan de Letrán, as it pounded them into an 89-70 rout to open the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball Finals at the Araneta Coliseum Wednesday afternoon.
As it sought its record-extending 24th title, the Red Lions of Yuri Escueta flipped the switch in the third period, clawing the Knights apart with ruthlessness as it drew first blood in their best-of-three championship series, the first since 2019.
Leading by example, the dual scoring threat of senior John Bryan Sajonia and rookie Agjanti Miller made waves as they hit for 17 and 16 points, respectively.
Junior point guard Nygel Gonzales then became the perfect third wheel after scoring 14 for the men from Mendiola, as the team survived a horrid ball-handling display after turning the ball over 22 times, with Letran converting it into 19 points.
Waxing hot from the jump, San Beda led by as much as 13 (22-9) early on in the opening frame, but Letran pegged back to within three at halftime.
Freshman Jonathan Manalili had 9 of his 17 there, while Roque then scored all but two of his dozen in the second quarter as the first half ended with San Beda enjoying a slim edge.
The Knights then pulled within a single point on a Mark Omega layup to open the third, but San Beda knocked the wind out of their sails with a crippling 10-0 run, and eventually choked their rivals to just five points in the penultimate frame to take the opener, in which their lead ballooned to 22 (70-48) at the start of the fourth.
However, the game might have come with a price as Miller got tossed for his second technical foul with 6:14 remaining after tangling with Deo Cuajao. If upheld, San Beda would miss his scoring when they go for the clincher on Saturday.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 89 – Sajonia 17, Miller 16, Gonzales 14, Estacio 8, Reyes 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Puno 6, Andrada 5, Lina 2, Etulle 0
LETRAN 70 – Manalili 17, Estrada 14, Roque 12, Santos 6, Gammad 6, Omega 4, Buensalida 2, Cuajao 2, Montecillo 2, Tapenio 2, Yusi 2, Gazzingan 1, Rosilio 0
Quarter scores: 29-19, 46-43, 68-48, 89-70
