San Beda books outright semis ticket in D-League after escaping CEU

Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda secured the top seed and an outright semifinals ticket after eking out an 81-72 victory against CEU in the 2023 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Tuesday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

The Red Lions led by as much as 17 points, 42-25, late in the opening quarter before the Scorpions staged a late rally with Franz Ray Diaz burying a triple to make it a 70-69 deficit for CEU in the fourth.

But an 11-3 closing run helped the Mendiola crew seal its fifth win in six games.

Third year player Jacob Cortez led the way for San Beda with 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block while Peter Alfaro, Yukien Andrada, and Clifford Jopia each poured in 11 markers in the victory.

“The incentive of being No. 1 and being in the semis is of course a welcome for us but at the same time, hindi kami pwede mag-relax. Tataas ‘yung laro sa playoffs so we have to be prepared,” said coach Yuri Escueta.

(The incentive of being No. 1 and being in the semis is of course a welcome for us but at the same time, we can't afford to relax. The level of play will be higher in the playoffs so we have to be prepared.")

The scores:

Marinero-San Beda 81 – Cortez 15, Alfaro 11, Andrada 11, Jopia 11, Payosing 9, Visser 8, Cuntapay 7, Tagle 5, Puno 2, Royo 2, Jalbuena 0, Tagala 0, Gallego 0.

CEU 72 – Tolentino 25, Santos 15, Diaz 12, Balogun 6, Bernabe 5, Borromeo 4, Puray 3, Cabotaje 2, Peñano 0, Joson 0, Ferrer 0, Anagbogu 0.
Quartescores: 19-13, 42-31, 60-57, 81-72.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News