San Beda University turned to Bryan Sajonia and Janti Miller in staging a 96-82 come-from-behind victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College in the NCAA Season 101 on Wednesday at the Filoil Centre.
Sajonia and Miller combined for 18 points in the fourth quarter alone, leading the Red Lions to erase a 15-point deficit and finish with a 14-point victory, securing the top spot in Group B with a 9-3 record.
Sajonia top-scored with 26 points together with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals while Miller churned out 17 markers, three boards, and two dimes as San Beda clinched the twice-to-beat bonus in the quarterfinals.
San Beda, though, will try to close out its group stage run on a high note on Sunday, when it takes on longtime rival Colegio de San Juan de Letran.
"Sabi lang sa amin ni Coach Yuri is ayun nga, bad start kami and sobrang sama ng depensa namin, sabi niya lang 'Gawan n'yo ng paraan 'yan and dahan-dahanin n'yo lang at 'wag foul nang foul," Sajonia said.
"And ayun nag-respond naman kami."
San Beda got off to a sluggish start, with EAC controlling most of the game behind a steady offense led by veterans Deo Lucero, Kyle Ochavo, and Wilmar Oftana.
At some point, the Generals even led by as much as 15 when they built a 40-25 cushion in the first half despite the absence of head coach Jerson Cabiltes.
But the Red Lions slowly clawed their way back into the game, sparked by seven consecutive points from graduating captain Yukien Andrada that brought them within three, 54-57, early in the third.
Despite the rally, EAC maintained a narrow 73-69 lead heading into the final quarter.
San Beda surged in the fourth thanks to hot shooting from deep. Rookie Jimmy Reyes knocked down consecutive triples, then Miller caught fire, spearheading a 9-2 run that pushed the Red Lions ahead 87-81.
Sajonia, unlike in the previous game where he was nearly held scoreless in the second half after a hot first half showing, put together the punctuation this time. The former FEU star converted two consecutive layups before Reyes sealed the deal with another three-pointer.
Andrada regained his shooting with 17 points laced with seven rebounds and one steal while Reyes and big man Joe Celzo chipped in 12 and 11 markers apiece.
With the loss, however, EAC fell to a 4-8 card. Lucero paced the Generals with 14 points while Ochavo and Jude Bagay tallied 11 and nine markers, respectively.
Scores:
San Beda 96 – Sajonia 26, Andrada 17, Miller 17, Reyes 12, Celzo 11, Culdora 5, Gonzales 3, Etulle 3, Lina 2, Calimag 0, Bonzalida 0, Estacio 0, Jamora 0.
EAC 82 – Lucero 14, Ochavo 11, Tolentino 10, Bagay 9, Angeles 7, Oftana 6, Bacud 6, Castillo 6, Loristo 4, Quinal 3, Shanoda 2, Jacob 2, Postanes 2, Dominguez 0, Villarente 0.
Quarters: 23-33, 47-54, 69-73, 96-82.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
