Lions pound Knights, close in on title
By: Zean Macamay
People's Journal
September 20, 2007
Games on Wednesday: (Araneta Coliseum)
2:00 p.m. -- Letran vs San Sebastian (Jrs)
4:00 p.m. -- Letran vs San Beda (Srs)
San Beda summoned championship experience at the right moment and outplayed pesky Letran in the fourth quarter, scoring a 76-68 victory and moving to within a win from its second straight title in the NCAA men’s basketball championships last night at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ogie Menor scattered 23 points on a hot 10-of-14 shooting in 31 minutes and knocked in the pair of baskets late in the game that sealed the win for the Red Lions, who appeared to be not the same team which finished with the best record in the eliminations (11-1).
Menor, the marketing student with a mohawk hairdo that belies his soft-spoken manner, drained the killer shot with 1:41 remaining in the game that pushed San Beda comfortably up at 70-60, triggering a deafening Indian cheer with a pulsating drumbeat at the background.
“It wasn’t easy, that’s a fact,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, a member of the San Beda team that also won back-to-back titles in 1977-78. “We started poorly. But I credit the boys because they never gave up.”
The Red Lions shoot for the title on Wednesday, hoping that the winning Finals’ trend since 2001 remains. Five out of the six teams that won Game One went on to win the title, with the Knights the only exception in 2005 against PCU.
“We played good basketball for 36 minutes,” said Letran coach Louie Alas. “I don’t know what happened, I can’t explain it. But I think it was just a mental lapse.
“Maybe if we could win Game Two, and if we could play 40 minutes of good basketball, chances are good in Game Three, because that is anybody’s ball game.”
Pong Escobal added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists while Sam Ekwe played without rest and had 14 points and 18 towering rebounds for San Beda. PBA-bound Yousif Aljamal added 12 points.
Rafael Jazul led the Knights with 17 points and Rey Guevarra was the only other player to score in double figures with 11.
But even if Letran ended as if it was struggling offensively, it didn’t reflect from how the way they began the game.
Annoying on defense and picking up every loose ball, the Knights stunned the Red Lions by erecting a 23-14 lead after the first period, with Jazul scoring 10.
But San Beda was able to come back after Ekwe asserted his might inside, and Menor started to find his range.
Neither team had full control after the third period ended at 48-47 in San Beda’s favor, and the contest witnessed by 11,000 fans were on the edge of their seats when the count stood 53-53 with under five minutes left in the game.
Suddenly, the close game transformed into a runaway win for the Red Lions. Menor had a jumper, and then followed it up with a triple, and before the Knights knew it, they were already staring at a 57-66 deficit with 3:13 left to play.
In the juniors division, Ryan Buenafe collected his fourth triple double of the season as San Sebastian moved to within a win of clinching its third straight crown following a 90-72 victory over Letran.
Buenafe scored 28 points, pulled down 15 rebounds and issued 10 assists and Arvie Bringas contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Staglets.
The scores:
First Game: (Jrs)
San Sebastian (90) -- Buenafe 28, Bringas 21, Delgado 12, Gusi 12, Ortueste 5, Delgado, John 4, Cam 3, Delgado, F. 2, Andrada 2, Laconico 1, Estrada 0, Ramsey 0.
Letran (72) -- San Jose 18, Alas 16, Noble 14, Alas 14, Khobuntin 8, Reforsado 2, Munsayac 0, Romeo 0, Roxas 0.
Quarterscores: 32-20; 51-34; 67-55; 90-72.
Second Game: (Srs)
San Beda (76) -- Menor 23, Escobal 17, Ekwe 14, Aljamal 12, Hermida 3, Taganas 4, Lanete 2, Gamalinda 0.
Letran (68) -- Jazul 17, Guevarra 11, Faundo 9, Quinday 7, Gutilban 7, Daa 6, Reposar 6, Del Rosario 3, Dangcal 2, Melegrito 0, Cabonce 0.
Quarterscores: 14-23; 35-34; 48-47; 76-68.
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