MANILA – San Beda University Red Lions weathered a San Sebastian College Golden Stags’ fightback from 23 points down to score a 78-71 victory in the NCAA Season 98 men’s basketball on Wednesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.
James Kwekuteye tallied 20 points, three steals and three rebounds to lead the way for the Red Lions, which improved to 2-2 to tie their victims and climb at the upper half of the standings.
Peter Alfaro added 11 points and three rebounds, Tony Ynot had 10 points, six boards and four assists, while JB Bahio had a double-double outing of 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocks and two steals for San Beda.
Determined to rebound from last Saturday’s stunning 81-89 loss to Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates, the Red Lions ran out the gates early with a 25-2 opening salvo.
The Stags, however, stormed back behind Jessie Sumoda, Ken Villapando and rookie Rhinwill Yambing to cut the deficit to 57-59 entering the payoff period but they could not break the two-point barrier until the end.
Sumoda finished with 19 points and six boards, Villapando had 13 points, seven rebounds, four steals and two assists while Yambing also scored 13 points to go with five boards and two steals for the Stags.
Meanwhile, Ry Dela Rosa drilled a go-ahead triple with four seconds left as Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers pulled off a come-from-behind 70-67 victory over Arellano University Chiefs.
Down by as much as 11 points early in the final quarter, the Heavy Bombers leaned on the exploits of William Sy to surge ahead at 63-56 before the Chiefs made a counter run for a 67-all count.
Dela Rosa then knocked down a corner triple to surge the Heavy Bombers ahead at 70-67. JRU’s JL Delos Santos then gave a tough challenge on Arellano’s Cade Flores’ three-attempt. With no foul called, the Chiefs walked out of the game.
Joshua Guiab paved the way for the Bombers with double-double 17 points and 10 rebounds, Delos Santos also had a double-double of 10 markers and 11 boards, while Sy and Marwin Dionsio had 13 and 12, respectively.
BOX SCORE:
SAN BEDA 78 — Kwekuteye 20, Alfaro 11, Bahio 10, Ynot 10, Cortez 6, Tagala 6, Cometa 4, Jopia 4, Andrada 4, Cuntapay 3, Visser 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 71 — Sumoda 19, Villapando 13, Yambing 13, Desoyo 4, Felebrico 4, Escobido 4, Calahat 3, Shanoda 3, Altamirano 3, Are 3, Una 1, Suico 1, Cosari 0, Concha 0.
Quarterscores: 30-11, 46-36, 59-57, 78-71./PN
