YOU don’t easily count out a defending champion.
This was proven by San Beda University yesterday when it scored a 79-69 victory over Mapua University in their first-round finals rematch in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
The Red Lions capped their opening round run with a three-game winning streak as big man Yukien Andrada, who shone in the extra period, saved the day for the Mendiola-based squad with a near double-double of 18 points and nine rebounds along with two steals and an assist.
The win allowed San Beda to forge a triple-tie with the Cardinals and the Letran Knights at 6-3.
Last year’s finals Most Valuable Player James Payosing added 15 markers and seven boards while Bryan Sajonia delivered 10 points, five rebounds, four dimes and a steal as the Lions snapped Mapua’s three-game winning streak.
“Of course, every time we play Mapua may Clint Escamis tsaka sila (Marc) Cuenco, ‘di ba? Those guys won’t give up, so we have to give it to our boys for playing defense until the end even during overtime, at the end of the fourth and during overtime,” San Beda coach Yuri Escueta said. “So sabi ko nga, we might be struggling offensively but we might be losing games also in the first round, but throughout the first round the only thing that has been saving us was our defense.
“I’d like to believe that if the stats, sa stats nga we’re the No. 1 defensive team, so sabi ko our execution will follow so kahit paano during overtime we were able to execute. So, iyon lang, it’s just our calling card and our mentality and the identity na we wanna build is iyong defense namin,” he added.
Earlier, College of St. Benilde blasted Jose Rizal University 84-69 to get back on track and regained the top spot.
In the third match, Emilio Aguinaldo College leaned on the career performance of Harvey Pagsanjan to drub San Sebastian College 97-80.
Rookie Jhomel Ancheta dropped 17 points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal for the Blazers while guard Gab Cometa added 15 markers.
Veteran Mark Sangco tallied a double-double 12 points and 10 boards while big man Allen Liwag and forward Justine Sanchez combined for 24 markers as CSB rose to 7-2.
“Well, ito pati sa Baste sa first half, both two great first halves but the second half was not really good for us ang dami na naman naming turnovers this game. Credit to JRU they played harder sa second half, but I thought we should have been better sa second half. Not too happy with how the game ended for us,” Blazers strategist Charles Tiu said.
