Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda bested Letran, 83-71, in a heated game between longtime rivals Friday in the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
With the Red Lions in full control in the waning seconds, a scuffle broke out as emotions ran high.
Bong Quinto drove hard to the basket and almost hit Jomari Presbitero with an elbow. Balanza, then, hurled another elbow at Presbitero which triggered a near melee breaking out.
“It’s a heated rivalry. It has been going for the longest time,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin. “Medyo physical, got a little hot before the end of the game, but that’s just how these two schools compete.”
“It’s the competitiveness in both schools. It’s just emotions running high, at least cooler heads prevailed. We don’t want anything like that happening in any sport.”
The near-brawl put a dampener on Davon Potts’ 23-point, 6-rebound showing, as the Red Lions bounced back from its shock loss to San Sebastian last Tuesday.
“It was a collective team effort from the day we lost until we won again,” said Jarin.
Ben Adamos admirably filled in at the center position for Jarin as he racked 18 markers, nine boards, and six blocks, while Javee Mocon got 17 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists in the win to improve the Red Lions to an 11-2 record.
The Red Lions outclassed Letran for the majority of the game, holding a lead as high as 19, 56-37 late in the third, before Quinto willed the Knights to a late flurry that only got them to as close as eight, 78-70.
Jarin, though, took time to apologize for the incident.
“We apologize if we did something ungentlemanly. We will control emotions and we will both be gentlemen in our next meeting.”
Jom Sollano topped Letran with a double-double of 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Quinto finished the game with 17 markers on a 6-of-18 shooting, to go with eight boards.
Rey Nambatac was limited to just 13 points on a paltry 3-of-13 clip from the field. He also had four rebounds and two steals, but committed five turnovers in the defeat.
The scores:
SAN BEDA 83 – Potts 23, Adamos 18, Mocon 17, Presbitero 6, Sara 4, Soberano 4, Noah 4, Bonsubre 3, Bolick 2, Tongco 2, Bahio 0, Carlos 0.
LETRAN 71 – Sollano 18, Quinto 17, Nambatac 13, Balanza 9, Calvo 9, Luib 3, Ambohot 2, Apreku 0, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Pambid 0, Dela Pena 0, Sario 0.
Quarters: 23-22, 43-32, 56-43, 83-71.