by Kevin Estrada

QUEZON CITY – San Beda got their season off to a bright start as it stifled fellow title rivals St. Benilde, 96-85 to close out the opening day of the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Wednesday evening.

A breakaway after halftime enabled the Red Lions to snag their first win against the Blazers since 2023, with their balanced attack saw four of them hitting double figures in a vaunted Group B that was considered as the Group of Death.

The guard combo of senior Bryan Sajonia and transfer junior Agjanti Miller each had 16 points, while fellow transfer guard Jimmy Reyes scored 13 points on an efficient 3-for-4 field goal shooting.

Forward Yukien Andrada then added 11 to kickstart his senior season.

Even with the win, San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta knows it is still a long way ahead in reclaiming the crown.

“One win doesn’t bring you to the playoffs, one loss doesn’t end your season. So malayo pa ito, it’s just the first day of the NCAA,” he said, noting that San Beda lost three straight to CSB last year.

Former Red Lion Justine Sanchez led all scorers with 24 points for the last season’s finalists, which had sparse help apart from Ian Torres’ 13 and a double-double (12 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists) by reigning MVP Allen Liwag.

The scores:

SAN BEDA 96 – Sajonia 16, Miller 16, Reyes 13, Andrada 11, Etulle 9, Gonzales 8, Calimag 7, Celzo 6, Culdora 4, Bonzalida 4, Lina 2, Estacio 0

ST. BENILDE 85 – Sanchez 24, Torres 13, Liwag 12, Ancheta 8, Celis 6, Oli 6, Cometa 4, Cajucom 4, Moore 3, Morales 3, Gaspay 2, Umali 0, Eusebio 0, Daja 0

Quarter scores: 26-30, 48-45, 71-61, 96-85