The San Beda Red Lions preserved their unbeaten run in NCAA Season 97 as they defeated the San Sebastian Stags, 61-60, behind a game-winning putback from JB Bahio on Friday at the La Salle Green Hills Gym.
James Kwekuteye hit a clutch three-pointer in the final minute, but San Beda still went into the dying seconds behind by one, 60-59.
That was when Bahio came up huge, cleaning up a Ralph Penuela miss to give his team the lead with 0.4 remaining on the clock.
Kwekuteye led San Beda with 11 points with Peter Alfaro the only other Red Lion in double figures with 10.
But seven other San Beda players scored at least four points, including game hero Bahio, who logged four points alongside team-highs of seven rebounds and three blocks.
San Beda improved to 4-0 while San Sebastian dropped to 1-3.
San Sebastian got off to a fast start as they jumped to a 9-2 lead to open the game.
San Beda, though, was able to cut that deficit down to just three points to close the first, before going on a big second quarter rampage, where they outscored the Stags, 24-15.
Franz Abuda scored eight points while JV Gallego added six in just the second period alone as the Red Lions took a 36-30 halftime lead.
Compounding the problems for San Sebastian was a disqualifying foul called on starting guard Ichie Altamirano after getting involved in a couple of chippy plays with his San Beda counterpart, Kwekuteye.
But San Sebastian continued to take the fight to San Beda in the second half. Behind Jessie Sumoda’s multiple trips to the charity stripe, where he went a perfect 6-for-6 in the third quarter, they managed to forge a 45-45 deadlock, the seventh of the game, to end the period.
The two teams went back and forth in the final period with Peter Alfaro leading the way for the Red Lions and Rommel Calahat making his mark for the Stags.
The game was halted momentarily when, in a moment that encapsulated the spirit of this contest, San Beda’s Abuda and San Sebastian’s Michael Are butted heads while both dove for the ball on the floor, leaving Abuda bloodied and Are shaken up.
The game resumed with the Stags ahead by two, 58-56, before Kwekuteye came up with a huge three-pointer that swung the advantage back to the Red Lions’ side, 59-58, with 25 seconds remaining.
But Calahat again delivered for San Sebastian in the clutch with a basket inside to make it 60-59 with 6.8 seconds left.
Bahio then came up with the biggest play of the game to seal the win.
JM Calma tallied game-highs of 12 points and 15 rebounds in a huge effort for San Sebastian while Calahat finished with 10 markers — eight coming in the final period.
With the San Beda-Letran rivalry game being moved from its original schedule of this Tuesday, the Red Lions will take a break as they next see action on Sunday, April 17, against Arellano University.
San Sebastian, meanwhile, gets a chance to bounce back in two days' time as they battle Lyceum of the Philippines University on Sunday.
The scores:
San Beda 61 – Kwekuteye 11, Alfaro 10, Abuda 8, Gallego 6, Andrada 5, Bahio 4, Amsali 4, Jopia 4, Viser 4, Villejo 3, Penuela 2, Sanchez 0, Cuntapay 0, Ynot 0.
San Sebastian – Calma 12, Calahat 10, Sumoda 8, Are 7, Villapando 6, Una 6, Dela Cruz 3, Altamirano 3, Shanoda 3, Felebrico 2, Desoyo 0, Loristo 0, Cosari 0.
Quarters: 12-15, 36-30, 45-45, 61-60.
—JMB, GMA News
