FILE – San Beda’s James Kwekuteye. INQUIRER PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—San Beda University held off a resilient Lyceum University, 79-71, in Group B of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup at San Juan Arena on Saturday.
The Red Lions had to rely on another late rally to hold off the Pirates, who now hold a 5-2 win-loss card.
“It’s a bit worrying because we waited for the end to make a run in the past two games. When we lead big, we have a tendency to relax then at the final minutes we go off. Our mentality about that needs to be fixed,” San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta said.
In their 88-69 win against Jose Rizal University on Wednesday, the Red Lions used an 18-0 run to secure their second win of the preseason. Their victory against the Pirates showed almost the same scenario.
The Pirates cut the Red Lions’ lead to five in the fourth quarter, 69-64, when San Beda growled back with an 8-0 run including an exclamation point dunk from Justine Sanchez for a 77-64 lead to keep their quarterfinals hopes alive. Sanchez finished with 12 points.
The Red Lions, who now hold a 3-4 slate, dominated for most of the game before Lyceum’s close run, even leading by nine at halftime, 41-32. They only led by five at the end of the third, 57-52.
James Kwekuteye became the center of San Beda’s offense with 15 points, four rebounds and three assists. Yukien Andrada and JB Bahio helped with 14 and 13, respectively.
John Barba was the high-point man for Lyceum with 24 markers and eight boards. Claude Guadaña scattered 11 as well.
For the Red Lions to secure a quarterfinals spot, San Sebastian and Letran would have to lose their games later today.