THE San Beda Red Lions are on a roll.
The Red Lions now have the momentum going into their last elimination-round game, following a 96-82 beating of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals on Wednesday in the 101st National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Arena in San Juan.
Bryan Sajonia and Agjanti Miller struck hard in the last period and provided key baskets that sent the Red Lions to their third straight victory.
With Sajonia providing a game-high 26 points, the Red Lions picked up their ninth overall win in 12 games in Group B and claimed a twice-to-beat incentive in the quarterfinals.
With a showdown with arch-rival Letran set on Sunday, the Red Lions will know who their quarterfinals rival will be — either the Knights, or the winner between the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers and the EAC Generals in their coming play-in encounter.
“You want to bring that momentum and confidence into the quarterfinals. You just don’t to be sloppy going into your game against Letran,” said Red Lions’ coach Yuri Escueta, after they overtook the College of St. Benilde’s 8-4 slate.
Miller, who fired 17 points apiece with Yukien Andrada, banged in nine points apiece with Sajonia and Jimuel Reyes for the Red Lions, who held the Generals to just nine points in the last period.
With the Lions trailing, 78-79, Miller shone bright during a 9-0 attack that gave San Beda the upperhand, 87-81, in the final 5:11, before Sajonia and Reyes took over.
Earlier, the Arellano University also marched to third straight triumph, after getting past the Lyceum Pirates.
T-Mc Ongotan delivered 24 points and 10 boards for the Chiefs, who hiked their record to 6-6, as the third seed of the Group A.
They still have a chance to tie with Mapua (7-5) to gain a twice-to-beat incentive for the playoffs when the two teams clash on Friday.
In the junior side, Steven Creus banged in 25 points for the Arellano Braves in their 88-80 upending of the Lyceum Junior Pirates.
This gave the Braves a share of the lead with the Mapua Red Robins at 8-4.
