San Beda’s Jomel Puno rises for a putback. —NCAA PHOTO
There is history to be made for San Beda in Season 100 of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament—that’s if the Lions are game for it.
After all, they are the lone remaining pioneers in a league that is celebrating its centennial.
But four games into the tournament, the defending champion has been up-and-down. And coach Yuri Escueta wants his team to change its mindset.
“I told the boys, as defending champions, teams are always targeting us. Why don’t we change the script and be the aggressors this time?” Escueta said after a bounce back win on Saturday.
Stunned by Emilio Aguinaldo, a squad that hadn’t beaten the league original ever, San Beda vented its ire on Jose Rizal, 77-60.
The Lions punched first this time, using a 30-point second quarter to pull away at the half, 46-22, and notch their third win in five games.
“We can’t always be on the receiving end,” Escueta said.
Yukien Andrada powered San Beda with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Bryan Sajonia helped the cause with 14 points.
The Heavy Bombers dropped to 1-4 (win-loss) despite a 27-point explosion by Shawn Argente.
Perpetual Help caught up with San Beda with the same five-game record after another stellar outing from rising rookie Mark Gojo Cruz.
The Altas knocked down Aguinaldo’s Generals, 73-67, behind an all-around outing from the rookie elevated from Perpetual’s high school program.
Cruz dropped 18 points with six assists, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Christian Pagaran added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Altas.
The Generals failed to ride the momentum of their upset of the Lions and slipped to 2-3 despite a strong effort from King Gurtiza, who tallied 17 points. —WITH A REPORT FROM ROMMEL FUERTES JR.