San Beda University got back to its winning ways after surviving De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, 67-63, to bolster its bid to finish in the top two in the NCAA Season 97 men's basketball tournament on Tuesday.
James Kwekuteye led San Beda with 13 points, including a clutch three-pointer that broke a 63-63 deadlock late in the game. The San Beda star also grabbed 10 rebounds and had three steals in a huge effort.
San Beda, which was coming off a heartbreaking loss to Mapua University last week, improved to 7-1 while CSB dropped to 5-4 but is already assured of a play-in ticket.
San Beda can still book the twice-to-beat playoff incentive should it win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Friday or Mapua lose to Lyceum on Wednesday.
Jacob Cortez, who was recently activated from the reserve list, scored seven points alongside two rebounds and two assists in his first NCAA game. The second-generation guard is the son of former pro Mike Cortez.
Seven other Red Lions, including JB Bahio and Ralph Penuela, scored at least five points in a balanced showing.
Back-to-back triples from AJ Benson and Carlos brought CSB to within just two, 58-63, before big man Ladis Lepalam tied it all up at 63 with 1:16 left in the game.
Kwekuteye then sank a huge off-the-glass three-pointer that handed San Beda a slim 66-63 cushion with 49 ticks left. Robi Nayve had the chance to send the game into overtime but missed all of his three free throws.
A split from the charity stripes from Peter Alfaro sealed the deal for San Beda, 67-63.
The Red Lions had to buck a slow start, trailing for most of the opening quarter as the Blazers established a 13-7 lead, but they ended the frame leading by nine, 16-13, thanks to a 9-0 run.
The supporting cast showed the way for San Beda in the second with rookie Yukien Andrada, Clifford Jopia, and Cortez providing the spark from the bench as they enjoyed a 37-27 cushion at the half.
That San Beda lead ballooned to 16 in the third, 41-27, but CSB kept pace with the Red Lions with guards Nayve and Prince Carlos igniting their offensive rally to cut their deficit to a single digit, 43-50.
Although CSB mounted a fightback, San Beda refused to crumble to end the period up, 57-44.
But the Blazers got back in the game in the final period, behind Lepalam and JC Cullar. CSB outscored San Beda, 19-10, in the fourth, but could not get the job done in the endgame.
Saint Benilde was led by Nayve, who scored 14 markers. Lepalam added 12 markers while Cullar added 10 markers.
Will Gozum had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds but shot just 3-for-16 (18.8-percent) from the field.
The scores:
San Beda 67 - Kwekuteye 13, Cortez 7, Bahio 6, Penuela 6, Jopia 6, Ynot 6, Cuntapay 6, Cometa 5, Andrada 5, Abuda 4, Gallego 2, Alfaro 1, Amsali 0, Visser 0.
Saint Benilde 63 - Nayve 14, Lepalam 12, Cullar 10, Gozum 10, Carlos 9, Benson 6, Publico 2, Lim 0, Flores 0, Marcos 0, Sangco 0, Corteza 0, Tateishi 0.
Quarters: 16-13, 37-27, 57-44, 67-63.
—JMB, GMA News
