NCAA: San Beda holds off Mapua for third straight win

MANILA — The San Beda Red Lions showed their poise in holding on for a 61-57 win against the Mapua Cardinals in the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament, Thursday at the San Juan Arena.

This was San Beda’s third straight win, hiking their record to 8-3 and allowing them to tie Jose Rizal University at the top of Group A. 

But they got it done the hard way, after seeing Mapua’s Jama Diaz knock down a three-pointer to make it a one-possession game, 55-53, with 3:12 to go.

Free throws by San Beda kept them in control, however. After a bucket by Ken Dones made it 59-57, RC Calimag knocked down two charities to give the Red Lions a more comfortable 61-57 lead with just 8.3 seconds left, enough for them to hold on for the win.

“I had to remind the players to focus on things we can control,” coach Yuri Escueta said. “Don’t mind the calls, holdings and all that, just focus in the stuff you can control but I think we made the crucial plays at the end of the game.”

Dan Marcelo spearheaded the Red Lions to the win with 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals. John Bonzalida’s near double-double of 10 markers and eight boards also helped Beda’s cause.

Cyrus Cuenco top scored for Mapua anew with 23 points. Yam Concepcion’s double-double of 12 markers and 12 rebounds also went down the drain as Mapua dropped to a 6-5 card.

Earlier, the Letran Squires squeaked past the Arellano Braves in juniors’ action, 86-84.

The Mapua Red Robins also won a thriller over the San Beda’s Red Cubs, 73-71.

Letran’s troika of Travis Pascual, Raj Sidhu and Eoin Braga scored 15 points a piece in the Squires’ win. Ray Relojo, on the other hand, scored 14 in the Mapua win while Chris Parame tallied a double-double of 14 markers and 14 rebounds.

The scores:

SBU 61 – Marcelo 16, Bonzalida 10, Lina 9, RC Calimag 7, Jamora 6, Torculas 4, Hawkins 3, Sarigumba 2, Puno 2, Ugaddan 1, Etulle 1, Jalbuena 0 R. Calimag 0

MU 57 – Cuenco 12, Concepcion 12, M. Nitura 6, Igliane 4, Diaz 3, Lazarte 3, Dones 2, Razon 2, Reyes 2, L. Nitura 0, Mendoza 0, Bernabe 0, Ryan 0

Quarter scores: 12-17, 23-30, 45-36, 61-57