San Beda’s Jomel Puno.-NCAA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—San Beda had to dig deeper for its second straight win, scraping past pesky Perpetual Help, 63-62, in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at San Juan Arena.
The Red Lions made the necessary stops late to deny the Altas’ comeback bid and notch their fifth win in eight outings.
The defending champions held Perpetual Help scoreless the rest of the way after the Altas pulled within a point in the final one minute and 41 seconds.
READ: NCAA: San Beda escapes Letran, CSB avoids meltdown
Jomel Puno turned in a near double-double with 16 points and eight rebounds while Yukien Andrada was active on both ends of the floor with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks for San Beda.
Cedrick Abis had a team-high 14 points for the Altas. His 3-pointer cut the Lions’ lead to one, 63-62.
Perpetual Help, which slid to 4-5, also drew 10 points apiece from Shawn Orgo and rookie Mark Gojo Cruz.
Knights dump Pirates
Letran rookie Sherick Estrada.-NCAA PHOTO
Letran, meanwhile, trounced Lyceum, 78-66, for solo third place in the standings.
Knights rookie Sherick Estrada led the cavalry with 19 points, seven assists and five rebounds while Kevin Santos also came up big with a double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds.
The Pirates crashed to a two-way tie with the Altas for fifth with identical 4-5 slates.
READ: NCAA: Letran survives in 3OT, Arellano stuns San Beda
John Barba had himself another solid stint with 24 points and seven rebounds for Lyceum. Renz Villegas added 14 in the defeat.
The league takes a break Sunday before wrapping up the first round of eliminations end on Tuesday with a tripleheader headlined by last year’s finals rematch between Mapua and San Beda at Mall of Asia Arena.