Lions put in extra defensive work to hold off Altas

San Beda’s Jomel Puno.-NCAA PHOTO

San Beda had to work a bit harder for a second straight win in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament following the effort of a pesky Perpetual Help squad.

The Red Lions squeaked past the Altas, 63-62, at San Juan Arena on Saturday with a thrilling fourth-quarter faceoff that was fought on the defensive end—after scoring ended with 101 seconds remaining.

The defending champion held a measly four-point lead, 63-59, in the last two minutes of the game before the Altas gave San Beda a huge scare in the clutch.

Cedrick Abis, who top scored for the Perps with 14 points, sank a three-point bomb from the right wing to cut the Red Lions’ lead to one, 63-62, with 1:41 left.

However, San Beda relied on its late-game composure to devise the needed stops that kept Perpetual at bay and improved its record to 5-3 (win-loss).

Jomel Puno turned in 16 points and eight rebounds, while Yukien Andrada was active on both offense and defense with 11 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

The Altas slid to a 4-5 card but not without the efforts of Shawn Orgo and rookie Mark Gojo Cruz, who both finished with 10 points apiece for the Perps.

Meanwhile, in another chapter of the “Battle of Intramuros,” Letran took the win over Lyceum in dominant fashion, 78-66. INQ