THE defending champion San Beda Red Cubs and the Mapua Red Robins pulled off hard-earned victories —their second straight triumphs Thursday in the 92nd National Collegiate Athletic Association junior basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.
The Red Cubs struggled with their inside game, but banked on their outside shooting in the third period to get past the Lyceum Junior Pirates, 97-88, even as Romuel Junsay and Jasper Salenga delivered 24 and 23 points, respectively, to lead the Mapua Red Robins to a 94-78 swamping of the La Salle Greenhills Greenies.
Salenga’s steady hands in the second and third periods allowed the Red Robins to take a 23-point spread at the end of third, 75-52.
Meanwhile, Erol Bongay hit 12 points and Jelo Razon shot 11 for the Perpetual Help Junior Altas, who clinched their first triumph in two matches at the expense of the Jose Rizal University Light Bombers, 82-66.
The wins allowed the Red Cubs and the Red Robins to keep their hold on the lead.
Eduardo Velasquez showed the way with 17 points for the Red Cubs, while Evan Nelle and Joshua Tagala provided 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The big men of the Junior Pirates, led by Mclaude Guadana with 23 points, made things difficult for the Red Cubs until the third period.
They put the Red Cubs into an unfamiliar situation by taking the lead, 58-52, in the last 7:01, off barreling attempts from Guadana and Vincent Cunanan.
The Red Cubs then rallied back with their outside shots using a 18-2 blast.
Robi Nayve’s drive, along with two treys from Obenza helped the Red Cubs turn the tables on the Junior Pirates, 70-60, in the last 3:17.
“Lamang sila. Matibay sila. Ang lalaki nila. But they ran into foul trouble. So, we were able to adjust,” said Red Cubs’ coach JB Sison.
Meanwhile, the Arellano University Chiefs and the San Sebastian College Stags shoot for a second straight win when they clash against each other at 12 noon today at the Arena in San Juan.
Led by Jio Jalalon, who scored 25 points and had seven rebounds the last time around, the Chiefs vow to recover from their opening-day jitters when they take on the Stags, who have learned from their mistake in the opener, according to new coach Egay Macaraya.
Coach Jerry Codinera is counting on new guy Lervin Flores to help control the shaded lanes and provide support for the prolific Jalalon.
The 6’5” Flores, playing out of Masantol, Pampanga, had with 8 points and 13 rebounds when the Chiefs got past the University of Perpetual Help Altas, 83-78.
The Stags are coming off a 59-49 triumph over College of St. Benilde.
“We are learning from our mistakes. One factor why it was close was the fatigue. Hopefully, we can bounce back in the next game,” said Macaraya.
Later, the Letran Knights will try to recover from their loss to San Beda in their 2 p.m. clash with the CSB Blazers.
University of Perpetual Help and Jose Rizal eye a first win when they meet at 4 p.m.
Newcomer Carlo Obenza, a guard from Camotes Island in Cebu, had 12, including two crucial triples in the third.