FILE – San Beda’s James Kwekuteye. in the NCAA Season 97. NCAA/GMA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–San Beda outlasted a hard-fighting Jose Rizal to prevail, 67-53, Sunday and stay unbeaten in three games in the NCAA Season 97 men’s basketball at La Salle Greenhills Gym.
Still adjusting to playing without a foreign player which that has helped their campaigns the past years, the Red Lions banked on big men Damie Cuntapay and JV Bahio in the fourth quarter.
The Red Lions defended the shaded lane down the stretch, limiting the Heavy Bombers to just nine points in the fourth period to join early winner Letran on the top with a 3-0 record.
Fil-Canadian forward James Kwekuteye topscored San Beda with 17 points. But it was the 16 combined points by Bahio and Cuntapay late in the game that ensured the victory.
“I told the big men that I had to go to you,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.