By Waylon Galvez
Games Friday (Mall of Asia Arena Pasay City)
1 p.m. – San Beda vs Lyceum (Jrs)
3 p.m. – Awarding Ceremony
4 p.m. – San Beda vs Letarn (Srs)
Jay Ynot and Justin Sanchez scored 16 points each to power San Beda to a convincing 94-80 win over Lyceum of the Philippines University to move a win away from winning the championship in the NCAA Season 95 junior’s division Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
San Beda’s Jay Ynot, left, scores against two Lyceum defenders in the NCAA Season 95 Finals at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, November 12, 2019. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
Ynot and Sanchez, two of eight graduating players of San Beda, led the Red Cubs’ balanced attack.
Sanchez also added 14 rebounds, while forward Rhayyan Amsali – formerly of the NU Bull Pups – finished with 14 points and 14 boards, and King Alcantara scored 12 points off the bench for the Red Cubs.
San Beda’s Rhayyan Amsali, center, scores against Lyceum defenders. (MB Photo / Rio Deluvio)
San Beda can clinch its 24th overall title in the junior’s tournament with another victory in Game 2 of the best-of-three finals series against Lyceum on Friday at the same venue.
The last time San Beda won the division was back in 2015.
Even if they are a win away from ending a four-year title-less campaign, San Beda mentor Manu Inigo – son of former sports editor Manolo Inigo – said they are not thinking too much the title.
“Malayo pa yan, Maga-adjust pa sila (Lyceum), tignan natin kung paano. What’s important is king paano namin ma-handle,” said Inigo, who played college ball of University of the East in the UAAP.
“Of course, it’s a big win. But we’ll prepare again, prepare sa balik ng Lyceum. They’re capable of staging a comeback, lalo ngayon nandito na tayo sa Finals so anything can happen.”
Inigo pointed to the 80 points they gave up as the Junior Pirates shot 29-of-67 (43.28%) from the field.
“We gave up 80 points, so hindi kami satisfied. Kailangan pa din mag-adjust sa defense,” he said. “Sa depensa kami mag-focus sa Game 2, yun ang kailangan namin gawin as a team.”
Ahead by just seven points 67-60 early in the fourth quarter, the Red Cubs unleashed a 12-0 run capped by a Charles Delfin three-pointer shot that gave them an 81-60 advantage with 6:27 to play.
During that run by San Beda, Alcantara scored five points.
John Barba, who will be named the junior’s division MVP after he topped the Statistical Points (SP) department, led Lyceum with 21 points, while Gyle Montano added 18 points of the bench.
McClaude Guadania was held to just six points on just 2-of-10 shooting from the perimeter.
Scores:
SAN BEDA 94 — Ynot 16, Sanchez 16, Amsali 14, Andrada 14, Alcantara 12, Delfino 8, Oftana 6, Valencia 3, Pelipel 3, Cabanero 2, Alao 0, Llarena 0, Pascual 0, Nicdao 0.
LYCEUM 80 — Barba 21, Montano 18, Omandac 11, Gamlanga 10, Garro 9, Guadania 6, Garing 5, Panganiban 0, Caduyac 0, Ragasa 0, Santos 0, Dejelo 0, Dumon 0, Gudmalin 0.
Quarters: 25-14; 47-41; 67-58; 94-80.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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