Intensity had picked up in the #NCAA100 Juniors Basketball tourney as teams, after four game days, had started to feel the urgency of winning each of their remaining games.
San Beda, EAC, and Perpetual were tied at 3-1, sitting atop the #NCAA100 Juniors Basketball standings, while Arellano, CSB-LSGH, JRU, Mapúa, and defending champs Letran congested the middle of the list with identical 2-2 records.
Scores, highlights, and more in this edition of the #NCAA100 Juniors Basketball Recap.
(Scores and results reflect games only as of March 4 2025)
San Beda Red Cubs vs Mapúa Red Robins
Mapúa won, 71-69.
The Red Robins banked on Sean Salvador’s 24 points as they preyed on the Red Cubs to claim their second win against two losses in the #NCAA100 Juniors Basketball Tournament.
Though virtually inseparable from San Beda on the stat sheet, Mapúa found particular success in translating their opponents’ mistakes into points, scattering 19 points off 19 San Beda turnovers.
Dwyne Miranda also had a productive night for the JR Dela Cruz-coached squad with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists, while MJ Vailoces top-scored for San Beda with 25 markers.
The Red Cubs fell to 2-2, tied with the Red Robins, following the loss.
San Sebastian Staglets vs LPU Junior Pirates
San Sebastian won, 83-77.
San Sebastian fought back in the dying minutes of their clash versus LPU to salvage their first victory in #NCAA100, powered by Sanlea Penaverde’s 37 points, 10 boards, 9 steals, and 6 dimes.
On the brink of absorbing their fourth loss in as many games in Season 100– down 6 with under a minute and a half remaining in the fourth– the Staglets were able to cut the deficit to three with a wide-open corner triple from Harry Herrera.
The Staglets made two more defensive stops that translated into transition buckets as they cruised to reclaim the lead in what was a legitimate test of endgame composure against an equally hungry LPU squad, who then dropped to 0-4.
EAC Brigadiers vs JRU Light Bombers
EAC won, 57-55.
‘No retreat, no surrender,’ said the Brigadiers as they held on to beat the Light Bombers in a close contest. The trio of EJ Castillo, Ian Cuajao, and Kelly Coronel led the charge for EAC, scoring 15, 15, and 12 respectively.
After building a 16-point lead after the first two quarters, the Brigadiers saw the Light Bombers claw their way back in the second half, but did just enough to contain the blue-and-gold uprising.
EAC improved to 3-1, while the JRU fell to 2-2.
CSB-LSGH Greenies vs Letran Squires
Letran won, 86-80.
The Squires needed an extra period to get rid of the Greenies, as the reigning back-to-back NCAA juniors champions notched their second win in their Season 100 campaign on the backs of Daniel Padilla (26p, 3r, 3a, 3s) and Jhuniel Dela Rama (18p, 16r, 4a, 2b).
Letran flexed their height and might with a dominant performance in the paint, out-rebounding the Greenies: 71-52, and scoring more paints in the shaded area: 42-32.
CSB-LSGH’s Guillian Quines was a lone bright spot for the green-and-white who exploded for 33 points and 7 dimes in a losing effort. The Greenies absorbed their second tournament loss.
Arellano Braves vs Perpetual Junior Altas
Perpetual won, 92-80.
Perpetual avenged their previous loss against San Beda with a 12-point victory over a feisty Arellano squad. High-flyer Jan Roluna starred for the Junior Altas, pouring in 18 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 assists.
Perpetual’s Dan Rosales, Jan Pagulayan, and Lebron Jhames Daep also combined for 50 points in their rout of the Braves, but not without a sizable scoring contribution from their bench (46 points).
The last year’s finalists went up to 3-1 after the win, while Arellano found itself in the middle of the standings with a 2-2 record.
