Lions inch way to second as Blazers keep grip on No. 1

Yuki Andrada (with ball) stands tall for the Red Lions. —NCAA PHOTO

It has been an up-and-down tournament for San Beda, the last remaining league pioneer seeing action in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball.

Somehow, though, the Lions have managed to build for themselves a share of the second-best record.

Tuesday’s 76-69 victory over Mapua in overtime clinched for the Lions their sixth win in nine games, the same record now toted by the Cardinals and by the idling Letran Knights.

San Beda claimed the victory by shutting down Clint Escamis, the Cardinals’ top gun, in the extra period while drawing solid contributions from Yuki Andrada, who had a triple and a short jumper in overtime to highlight his team-best 18 points.

For San Beda coach Yuri Escueta, however, the team’s effort on the defensive end helped a lot.

“We have to give it to our boys for playing defense at the end of the fourth and during overtime,” said Escueta.

“So as I said, we might be struggling offensively, losing games in the first round, but throughout … the only thing that’s been saving us was our defense,” he added.

St. Benilde stayed in the lead but again needed to weather a late uprising from its opponent before handing out an 84-69 beating of Jose Rizal University in the earlier game.

The Blazers led by 26 late in the second period and that cushioned them from another meltdown after a wobbly second half. St. Benilde has blown big leads in its last three games, losing one of them.

It has managed to stay on top, however, with its 7-2 (win-loss) record.

Ynot injured

“We’re happy that we’re number 1, but obviously we would have wanted a bit more breathing room because all the teams are bunched together closely and definitely we want to get the twice-to-beat advantage in the Final Four if we do make it,” said College of Saint Benilde coach Charles Tiu.

The Blazers’ victory, however, came with a price: Tony Ynot, a former Red Lion who is one of the core players of the squad, injured his left ankle in the opening quarter and is expected to miss some games.

Jhomel Ancheta filled the scoring void Ynot left as he finished with 17 points—his best performance as a Blazer and the best in the game for St. Benilde.

“Happy that we got back after our loss,” said Ancheta, a 21-year-old San Mateo, Rizal, native and rookie transferee from Centro Escolar University, referring to their 73-71 defeat to Arellano University on Friday.

The Bombers dropped to 3-6 despite the 24 points of skipper Joshua Guiab. —INQUIRER SPORTS STAFF INQ