San Beda University needed just one big push in the second quarter to send University of Perpetual Help System DALTA crashing, 78-71, in NCAA Season 97 action on Wednesday.
James Kwekuteye scored 18 points while Yukien Andrada added 15 points on 5-for-8 (62.5-percent) shooting to lead the Red Lions to its six straight victory.
Rhayyan Amsali and Peter Alfaro also scored nine markers apiece for San Beda.
San Beda improved its standing to an immaculate 6-0 slate while struggling Perpetual dropped to 2-5 behind a three-game losing streak.
With the game knotted at 16 at the end of the first, the Red Lions banked on its bench anew in the second period.
Led by the second unit of Andrada, Amsali, and Winston Ynot, the San Beda bench scored 26 points in the second quarter, outscoring the entire Perpetual team's 18 markers in that period.
Kwekuteye was also huge for San Beda, tallying 11 points in the first half, which concluded with the Mendiola school enjoying a 48-34 cushion.
There was hardly a comeback fight on the part of Perpetual in the third with San Beda extending its lead to as high as 17, 62-45, after a Damie Cuntapay basket. Kim Aurin, though, scored five straight points as Perpetual trimmed its deficit to 14 at the end of the period, 64-50.
Perpetual managed to stage a rampage in the fourth, igniting for an 8-0 blitz that got them back to within seven, 74-67, but San Beda held on with some crucial plays, including a big shot from Alfaro late, as it clinched the win.
Aurin led the Altas with 16 points while Jielo Razon chipped in with 15 markers and six assists.
San Beda will next face Mapua University on Saturday while Perpetual will try to salvage its season on Sunday against Lyceum of the Philippines University.
The scores:
San Beda 78 - Kwekuteye 18, Andrada 15, Amsali 9, Alfaro 9, Cuntapay 6, Ynot 5, Penuela 4, Bahio 4, Jopia 4, Gallego 2, Cometa 2, Villejo 0, Viser 0, Sanchez 0, Abuda 0.
Perpetual 71 - Aurin 16, Razon 15 Pagaran 13, Martel 12, Ferreras 3, Boral 3, Egan 2, Sevilla 2, abis 2, Omega 2, Cuevas 1, Barcuma 0, Nunez 0, Kawamura 0.
Quarters: 16-16, 48-34, 64-50, 78-71.
—JMB, GMA News
