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Shawn Argente and Sean Salvador’s torrid shooting have made them the lifeblood of Jose Rizal University and one of the NCAA’s most formidable duos.
San Beda University learned that the hard way, falling 67-66 to the Heavy Bombers in their last meeting a month ago, where Salvador torched them with four triples on his way to 15 points. Meanwhile, Argente has shown that JRU can live—and die—by his perimeter shooting in their Season 101 campaign so far.
Salvador also leads the league in three-pointers made with around three per game, while Argente joins the leaderboard at sixth with about two per game, tied with the likes of Yukien Andrada, Joshua Moralejo, and Jonathan Daileg.
That’s why, in their rematch on Saturday, the Red Lions knew exactly what it would take to avenge that narrow defeat.
San Beda put premium on defense in their 65-56 win as they limited Argente to 12 points on a dismal 4-of-15 clip from the field, while forcing Salvador to make only three of his 15 attempts to tally eight markers.
"Our guards did a good job on defending probably two of the best shooters in the NCAA, maybe not only in the NCAA but in collegiate basketball, si Sean Salvador at si Shawn Argente," San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta said. .
Bryan Sajonia and Janti Miller were largely responsible for that outcome.
But even when it's defense that was demanded from them, the backcourt tandem proved they can also shine on the other side with Sajonia pouring 18 points while Miller churned out 16 markers together with eight rebounds and three steals.
Sajonia did damage in the first half, where he scored 16 of his total output, while Miller punctuated the vengeful victory by knocking down a pair of three-pointers late in the fourth.
"Hindi ko naman ine-expect na mag-score ako nang gano’n kasi sa mga past games namin, pinaghahandaan ko talaga ‘yung defense and nag-extra viewing ako sa mga tinatakbo nila lalo na kay Salvador and Argente," Sajonia echoed Escueta.
"Alam naman natin na sila siguro yung pinaka-best shooters dito sa NCAA ngayon. ‘Yung mindset lang talaga is defense."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
