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Past NCAA Articles
Lions out to end long title wait
PCU still in San Beda’s way in NCAA
September 20, 2006
From Manila Times
Frank Calapre
SAN BEDA COLLEGE tries to end nearly three decades of disappointment Wednesday when it goes for the clincher of the 82nd National Collegiate Athletics Association title series against Philippine Christian University in Game 2 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Red Lions, who ha-ven’t won the NCAA title sin-ce 1978 and are only in their first final since 1997—barren streaks of 28 and 9 years, respectively— collide with the Dolphins anew at 4 p.m.
Led by the rookie guard John Escobal, veteran forward Yousif Aljamal and Best Rookie-Most Valuable Player Sam Ekwe, San Beda clobbered PCU in Game 1, 71-57, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three titular showdown.
“We hope to end this long wait, but we know that it would be really, really hard,” said San Beda coach Koy Banal, whose team’s latest win was their 14th straight—tying the NCAA record for most consecutive victories in a season—since losing to the Dolphins, 70-66, in the first round.
“PCU will definitely get back at us. They would not give up easily, and they would do whatever adjustments they could do in order to stop us from winning the title,” added Banal.
Dolphins rookie coach Joel Dualan already has adjustments in mind to make up for their disappointing performance in the series opener, particularly in the second half when they collapsed.
“We need to step up on offense, because in the second half of Game 1 we just fell apart. We also need to stop their shooters, particularly Aljamal and Escobal, and double-team on Ekwe,” Dualan said.
The Red Lions, led by Ekwe’s 14 boards, outrebounded the Dolphins, 59-35. The Nigerian exchange student also had six of his team’s eight blocks against five from PCU.
Escobal and Aljamal led a balanced attack with 19 and 14 points, respectively.
While both are expected to lead San Beda’s offensive and rely on Ekwe’s dominating presence inside the shaded lane, Banal will also lean on the playmaking of veteran guard Alex Angeles.
For PCU, besides Gabby Espinas, Jason Castro and Ian Garrido, Dualan hopes the likes of Rob David, Beau Belga and Lei Navarro will step up to force a winner-tale-all Game 3 on Friday.
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Lions roar in Game One
From: Inquirer
By Marc Anthony Reyes
ROOKIES Pong Escobal and Samuel Ekwe struck hardest in the fourth quarter as San Beda College turned back Philippine Christian University, 71-57, last night and moved on the threshold of the NCAA men’s basketball championship at the Araneta Coliseum.
The newly installed 2006 Rookie-MVP winner Ekwe hit a turnaround jumper before Escobal came through with four-point and three-point plays in succession as the Red Lions pulled away beyond recall, 63-49, in the last period.
With its explosive Game 1 victory, San Beda is expected to wrap up its first title in 28 years with a win tomorrow also at the Big Dome.
“Let’s not talk about a sweep yet,” said San Beda coach Koy Banal. “Let’s see the possible adjustment they (PCU) will make. We are just one game ahead.”
The Dolphins put up a tough fight, taking control in the second quarter and staying within 49-54 before Ekwe touched off San Beda’s decisive charge.
After a Jason Castro miss, Escobal struck with a three-pointer plus a foul to boot from Liztian Amparado. He made the bonus free throw for a 60-49 cushion.
The 6-foot guard from Davao followed it up with a three-point play off the same Amparado for that 63-49 advantage.
“This is a collective effort, I can’t do anything without my teammates,” said Ekwe, who finished with just seven points, but posted 14 rebounds, six blocks and three steals to justify the accolade he received as the season’s top individual player before the game began.
San Beda surprisingly engaged PCU in an early shoot-out with outside hits from Escobal and Yousif Aljamal, giving the Lions a 20-17 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But the Dolphins settled down through Castro and Gabby Espinas, who combined for seven straight points en route to a 34-30 halftime advantage.
San Beda then poured 14 unanswered points at the start of the third quarter, mostly on fastbreaks that featured two monster slams from Ekwe and a booming three-pointer from Escobal that nearly brought the house down.
Espinas picked up his third foul early in the quarter and was never a factor since then.
By the time the Dolphins managed to end their scoring drought -- when Ian Garrido split his free throws with 2:43 left in the quarter -- San Beda had a double-digit edge that stood at 50-39 going into the final period.
Meanwhile, defending champion San Sebastian College also drew first blood in the juniors championship series, nipping PCU, 57-55, in the first game.
Second Game (Srs)
SAN BEDA 71 -- Escobal 19, Aljamal 14, Tecson 12, Angeles 10, Menor 7, Ekwe 7, Evangelista 2, Gamalinda 0, Maggay 0, Taganas 0, Hermida 0.
PCU 57 -- Castro 16, Espinas 14, Garrido 10, Belga 8, David 6, Amparado 3, Chien 0, Hermosa 0, Navarro 0, Graham 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 20-17, 30-34, 50-39, 71-57.
San Beda A Win Away To Ending Title Drought
09/18/2006
by JP Abcede
Ubelt website
One more win and San Beda College’s battlecry of ending 28 years of basketball championship drought at the 82nd season of the NCAA might finally become a reality.
Sam Ekwe, the newly heralded rookie MVP, softened the prey in the third quarter with two momentum-shifting dunks while Pong Escobal went for the kill making seven points in two plays in the fourth quarter to take Game One of the finals, 71-57, against Philippine Christian University on September 18 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Ekwe soared for a two-handed jam, acting as trailer for Escobal, 8:07 in the third. The 6-8 Nigerian native then made another one two minutes later when Alex Angeles dropped him a pass and Jason Castro hanging on his huge arms for a three-point play and San Beda reclaiming the lead which they never relinquished.
Escobal, on the other hand, swished one in front of his team’s bench as Liz Amparado could not contain his momentum and bumped onto the former Holy Cross of Davao cager for a four-point play. He then followed this up on the next possession with a hard drive to the lane, stretching just enough for Amparado not to reach the ball for an and-one basket and the Red Lions’ highest lead, 63-49, more than four minutes remaining in the contest.
“We were down the first half, we just made minor adjustments,” said SBC coach Koy Banal. “Don’t force the issue,” is what he reminded his wards at the break.
The only thing that seemed to be forced were PCU’s shots, who were only able to connect 28% of their attempts on the field, despite shooting uncharacteristically well at the freethrow line with 14/18.
Escobal lead all scorers with 19 points , a perfect 4/4 on the line, going along with six assists. Yousif Aljamal was good for 14 markers on 6/10 shooting at the two-point area and 12 rebounds for a double-double.
JR Tecson was Banal’s surprise of the day with 12 points and 6/6 at the charity stripe, four of them coming from a Robby David combo personal and technical foul in the third period. Angeles was the other double-digit scorer for the Lions with ten.
Ekwe, who accomplished a hat trick of sorts by bagging the Defensive Player of the Year award as well, notched seven points, 14 boards, three steals, and six blocks.
“It’s been given by God,” Ekwe referred of his personal accolades.
“Just amazing,” was how Banal described his MVP. “He will do whatever is asked of him.”
Castro spearheaded Philippine Christian with 16 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Gabby Espinas, who was limited to 28 minutes of action due to foul trouble, had a satisfactory night of 14 and seven. Ian Garrido made ten and two thefts.
“Let’s not talk about it,” Banal forewarned, pertaining to a possible sweep on Wednesday.
“No man can say what happens [on Game Two],” added Ekwe. “We have to believe.”
The SBC crowd was a solid red, occupying more than half of the arena, while the raucous Dolphin gallery was garbed in white.
Castro started the ball rolling with a quick 4-0 spurt. Beda answered with two three-pointers from Ogie Menor and Angeles for an 8-4 tally with barely three minutes elapsed in the match.
Espinas then acted as point man, setting up Amparado and Garrido for a couple of threes, 15-16, 3:39. Angeles then drove under Espinas and Aljamal converted a basket for a five-point San Beda spread, 20-15, more than a minute to go in the quarter.
Nevertheless, the Dolphins recovered just as quick with a 7-0 rally to retake the lead midway the second canto. Garrido extended the gap to five, 2:50 before halftime, grabbing the leather away from Aljamal at the backcourt, 29-24.
“Defense nila,” observed Banal as to what the opposition did right on the first 20 minutes. “They forced us into a lot of turnovers.” He countered though that they had 11 fastbreak points in the first half to negate PCU’s production.
With Espinas riding the bench for most of the second half, the red and white gang returned the favour, holding the Dolphins scoreless for more than seven minutes of the third period, while they orchestrated a run of their own. Tecson capped the blitz with a layup after Lei Navarro botched a shot from the corner, 46-34, 3:06.
The Red Lions also benefited from veteranly fouls as Tecson strung four freebies in one trip when David was whistled for a personal plus a technical for running downcourt in frustration. This gave San Beda a more comfortable cushion with 13, 50-37, going into the final quarter.
However, PCU ignited a 10-4 blast to begin the fourth with Belga in the helm, scoring six in that span. The last one was for the highlight reel as his pump fake made Ekwe to jump out of his shorts, spun in one direction for an uncontested twinner, 49-54, 6:25.
Not to be outdone, Ekwe made a turnaround bank shot from a post position off Belga to initiate the Mendiola-based squad’s final say. This set up Escobal’s seven-point barrage in 32 seconds.
“All we have to think about is the possible adjustments [of PCU],” Banal shared.
Before the seniors’ cage finals started, individual awards were given away as Castro, Espinas, Floyd Dedicatoria of Jose Rizal University, and Khiel Misa of University of Perpetual Help Dalta joined Ekwe in the mythical team. Boyet Bautista of Colegio de San Juan de Letran was adjudged Most Improved Player.
Ekwe proves a Tower of Power
From Philippines National Inquirer
SAMUEL EKWE, the Nigerian do-it-all reinforcement of San Beda College, was fittingly rewarded with three of four individual awards, including the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year plums of the 2006 season of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday.
The 22-year-old marketing student from Lagos was also honored as top defensive player and headed the Mythical Five that also included Jose Rizal University’s Floyd Dedicatoria, Gabby Espinas and Jason Castro of Philippine Christian University and Khiel Misa of the University of Perpetual Help.
“This is all God’s will,” said the lean, muscular 6-foot-8 Ekwe, who wants to become a priest, during the annual awards rites at the Araneta Coliseum.
The former football player who took up basketball only two years ago swore he didn’t expect to win the prestigious awards and that he only did what he was tasked to do: work hard inside the lane and help the Red Lions win games.
Ekwe, an intimidating presence inside the shaded area, dominated both boards and led in shot blocks to finish with a league-best 38.9 Player’s All-Around Value.
He clinched the defensive player award with better averages in rebounds of (13.8), blocks (2.8) and steals (.9). He posted season-highs of 23 rebounds and 11 blocks in two different games in the second round.
Ekwe actually won the same set of awards swept by the pro-bound Espinas in 2004.
Boyet Bautista, chief playmaker for the dethroned champion Letran College, snagged the Most Improved Player award after posting 27.2 PAV compared with 21.1 PAV last season. It was a nice send-off gift for the 5-foot-10 skipper who was picked by Purefoods during the recent rookie draft of the Philippine Basketball Association.
PCU’s Elvin Pascual matched Ekwe’s feat in the junior division. Joining him in the Mythical Five were San Sebastian College’s Ryan Buenafe, Jose Rizal University’s Raycon Kabigting and Carlo Lituania and Letran’s Julius Wong. Perpetual’s Michael Dizon snatched the MIP accolade. Marc Anthony Reyes
All photos taken by fellow Bedan, Stephen from http://sonics.multiply.com
San Beda College returns in the promise land
09/18/2006
by Josef Ramos
RP Sports website
The Red Lions roar louder heading to the Finals after nine years of waiting.
San Beda College, hanging firmly with a minute left, pocketed a Finals ticket in the 82nd NCAA men's basketball after scoring a thrilling 55-51 squeaker over Mapua Institute of Technology on Wednesday at the Araneta Coliseum.
"It's a hell of a game," Red Lions head coach Koy Banal described. "You have to give credit to Mapua. They were ready against us. They were aggressive on both ends of the floor and this game helped us to make it to the finals."
It was actually a hard win for San Beda as it only held a 53-51 edge after Alex Angeles made one of his two free throws with a minute left. The Cardinals lost their chance to pull the rug off under the Lions as they succumbed to errors in the ensuing play, however.
With two opportunities to tie or even win the game that would equalize the series, guard Sean Co's passing error to Kelvin Dela Peña has caused Mapua's downfall and Angeles returned in the foul line to ice the game with two free throws in the dying seconds.
Bull-strong Yousif Aljamal carried the Red Lions' offense with 20 points - on a 3-of-6 shooting beyond the arc and firing 5-of-13 shots in the field - and collected 12 rebounds, while forward Rogemar Menor added nine points and six boards.
San Beda, which last landed in the Finals in 1997 but loss to San Sebastian College, was downed most of the time particularly at the end of the first half, 22-29, where it only scored seven points against the 16 of Mapua.
The Red Lions fought back early second half and scored 16 points in third period to outplay the Cardinals, who was limited to only 11 points there, and slash their lead heading in the last canto, 38-40.
Trailing by 44-39 with still 8:14 left, the hard-fighting San Beda team refused to give up easily as it uncorked a blistering 11-0 burst led by Menor's triple with 2:52 remaining that gave them a 50-44 lead.
Kelvin Dela Peña, who scored 11 points for Mapua, responded with a three-pointer off a crosscourt pass from Sean Co. But Aljamal converted a one-handed basket at the corner, for a 52-47 count with 2:10 left.
Jerby Del Rosario and Jofferson Gonzales made a basket each to narrow the gap within 51-52 with 47 seconds to go. Mapua had a chance to go up after Aljamal missed a three but Dela Peña muffed a shot at the lane.
San Beda College, which set a Final showdown with Philippine Christian U on Monday, shot only 27%, but things evened somehow as MIT managed only to make 3-21 at the arc
Box scores:
SBC (55) - Aljamal 20, Menor 9, Gamalinda 7, Angeles 6, Escobal 5, Ekwe 4, Maggay 3, Tecson 1.
MIT (51) - Dela Peña 11, Gonzales 11, Del Rosario 10, Tiongco 6, J. Pascual 5, Co 4, N. Pascual 2, Mazo 2.
Quarter Scores: 15-13; 22-29; 38-40; 55-51
Sam Ekwe
July 7, 2006
San Beda vs. Mapua
Lions in first final since ’97
09/07/2006
RP Sports website
By Frank Calapre, Correspondent
LAST year’s runner-up, Philippine Christian University, and San Beda College humbled separate foes Wednesday to arrange a titular showdown in the 82nd National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
San Beda moved a step closer to ending a 28-yearlong title drought, as the Red Lions escaped with a pulsating 55-51 win over the Mapua Institute of Technology to grab the first finals seat.
Not to be outdone, the PCU Dolphins displayed a well-oiled offense to dethrone defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 72-50, to reach the finals for the third time in the four years.
Both teams begin their best-of-three championship series on Monday with neither enjoying a psychological edge, the teams’ respective coaches said.
“It’s almost even, and I think it [title series] will go the full distance,” said PCU coach Joel Dualan, who assumed the coaching chores only this year.
In the juniors’ match, defending champion San Sebastian College-Recoletos wasted no time in grabbing the first finals slot, defeating the San Beda Red Cubs, 61-52.
Ryan Buenafe finished with 13 points and Arvie Bringas made 12 to lead the Staglets to their second straight finals appearance in the high-school division.
Yousif Aljamal scored 7 of the Red Lions’ 17 points in the fourth quarter, capped by a triple and two straight baskets within 3 minutes, as they proved their mastery over the five-time champion Cardinals.
San Beda had beaten Mapua twice in the double-round robin elimination phase.
The Red Lions last made the finals in 1997 behind Ato Morano, Ricky Calimag and Rensy Bajar. They lost to the San Sebastian College Stags.
“Despite the pressure, at least we have made it this time. Lots of people called up and even sent me text messages telling me to win this match,” said San Beda coach Koy Banal, who joined the Lions in midseason last year as a replacement for Nash Racela.
The coach, however, praised the Cardinals for their gallant stand, particularly in the last 4 minutes when only a point separated the two teams, 52-51.
“I want to give credit to Mapua. They put up a good fight, and it really tested our true character,” added Banal, who had steered the Far Eastern University Tamaraws to the championship in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines in 2003.
The Cardinals could have regained the upper hand but Filipino Canadian Kelvin de la Peña fumbled on a pass by Sean Co, eventually sending Alex Angeles to the stripe for charities that made it 55-51 with only 12 seconds remaining.
Rogemar Menor supported Aljamal with 9 points and 6 rebounds, while Riego Gamalinda had 7 points and 6-foot-8 Nigerian center Sam Ekwe—touted as the reason for the Lions’ renaissance this season—had 4 points but hauled down 15 rebounds.
Joeferson Gonzales and de la Pena topscored for Mapua with 11 points apiece, with 10 for Jerby del Rosario.
Lions send Knights to playoff vs Dolphins
09/07/2006
The Philippine Star
San Beda shackled Letran with a pressing defense in the fourth quarter as it bounced back from a season low two-point output in the second period to score a come-from-behind 54-44 victory yesterday and extend its run to 12 in the 82nd NCAA basketball tournament at the Araneta Coliseum.
Held to just 27 points in the first 30 minutes of play, including that two-point struggle in the second quarter, the Lions roared back by clobbering the Knights in the fourth behind their own suffocating defense.
That included a 20-0 run in a six-minute stretch of the final period as San Beda moved a win away from duplicating its 13-game streak when it won its last NCAA title 28 years ago.
Although assured of the top seeding in the Final Four and the twice-to-beat advantage, the Lions still fought back from a 27-35 deficit at the onset of the fourth in a game they could afford to lose with the contest marred by a debris-throwing incident.
"We know this game has no bearing for us," said San Beda coach Koy Banal. "But we have an obligation to go for the win each game."
The Knights, who led almost all throughout, fell to their fourth loss against 10 wins and into a tie with Philippine Christian U at second. The Dolphins walloped the Mapua Cardinals, 75-65, in the first game.
Jason Castro dished out an all around effort with 20 points, nine boards, six assists and six steals while 2004 rookie MVP Gabby Espinas chipped in 18 points for the Dolphins.
Letran and PCU, last season's finals protagonists, will thus play each other in a knockout duel for the No. 2 seeding tomorrow, also at the Big Dome in what could be a virtual best-of-three since the two will face each other in the next phase.
San Beda will take on Mapua in the other Final Four contest.
The San Beda-Letran game was marred a debris-pelting incident sparked by the ejection of Letran mentor Louie Alas with 3.08 minutes to go in the contest.
Alas was contesting a flagrant foul called on Rafael Jazul on a driving John Escobal, insisting that it should have been ruled as an ordinary foul.
The Scores: Second Game (Srs)
SAN BEDA (54): Aljamal 14, Escobal 12, Tecson 6, Menor 6, Maggay 6, Ekwe 4, Angeles 4, Gamalinda 2, Evangelista 0.
LETRAN (44): Bautista 20, Balneg 8, Aban 4, Realista 2, Mondragon 2, Melegrito 2, Faundo 2, Daa 2, Quinday 0.
Quarters: 12-21; 14-26; 27-35; 54-44.
Red Lions rip Knights
By Frank Calapre, Correspondent
Thursday, September 07, 2006
SAN BEDA COLLEGE held defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran scoreless for 5 minutes in the fourth quarter for a pulsating 54-44 victory Wednesday in the 82nd National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament.
The Red Lions, seeking to end a 27-year-long title drought, came back from a 12-point deficit at the half to notch their 13th win in 14 matches on the last day of the elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum.
Their lone setback was at the hands of the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, 66-70, in the first round on June 28.
With the loss, the 16-time titlist Knights finished the eliminations tied with PCU on identical 10-4 win-loss slate?forcing Letran into a playoff with last year's runners-up for the second spot and a twice-to-beat semifinal advantage on Friday.
Yousif Aljamal scored 8 of his 14 points in the final period to lead the Red Lions' fiery comeback, after they held the Knights to a mere 5 points in the third quarter.
The match, closely fought in the first half, also saw Letran coach Louie Alas ejected on double technical fouls with only 3:08 remaining.
Aljamal went on to lead the Red Lions in scoring, while John Escobal finished with 12, and Ed Tecson, Rogie Menor and Raymund Maggay had 6 points each.
Boyer Bautista scored 20 for Letran, while Mark Balneg made 8 points.
Earlier, PCU closed the double-round round eliminations on a high note, as the Dophins carved out a 75-65 win over Mapua Institute of Technology in the first game.
With Mapua's top sniper Joeferson Gonzales suspended, probound Gabby Espinas and Jason Castro took advantage and combined for 38 points, 8 in the final period, to post the Dolphins' 10th win in 14 matches.
Castro, who top-scored for the Dolphins with 20 points on top of 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 6 steals, scored on a drive to take the 2004 champions to an early 24-12 lead.
Espinas, picked 5th by San Miguel Beer in the recent Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft, finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Lei Navarro added 13 points.
Sean Co scored a game-high 22 points for Mapua, followed by Terre Guillermo with 12 points and 8 for Raymund Tiongco.
"We really wanted to be in the Final Four, but even if we are in already, we still hope Letran loses to San Beda so that we can force a playoff for the second twice-to-beat advantage," said PCU coach Joel Dualan.
In the lone juniors match, David Marcelo scored 14 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lift the San Beda Red Cubs past the Letran Squires, 68-51, finishing the elimination phase with an 8-4 mark.
The San Beda Red Lions defeated the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, 73-64, at Wednesday's 82nd National Collegiate Athletics Association men's basketball game at the Ninoy
Aquino Stadium.
July 28, 2006
San Beda vs. Letran
By FRANK CALAPRE, The Manila Times Correspondent
Mapua Institute of Technology surprised defending champion Colegio de San Juan de Letran,
54-49, on Wednesday to clinch the last semifinals seat in the 82nd National Collegiate
Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Filipino Canadian Kelvin de la Pena, son of former Crispa Redmanizer Richard de la Peña, rose
to the occasion by firing 20 points on top of 10 rebounds to lead the Cardinals to their 7th
win in 12 matches.
The five-time champion Cardinals thus joined early qualifiers San Beda College, 2005
runner-up Philippine Christian University and Letran into the Final Four with still four
playing days left in the double-round eliminations.
"It's always like this whenever Mapua and Letran meet in the past 50 years. We even have a
battle cry: win the 'Battle of Intramuros.' Thank God, this time we won," said Mapua coach
Horacio Lim, whose wards lost to the Knights, 74-71, in the first round.
"Its all about pride. We don't want to lose to Letran because they are our rivals in
Intramuros," Lim said.
Later, the San Beda Red Lions exacted vengeance over the PCU Dolphins, 73-64, to clinch the
first twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinal round.
Yousif Aljamal and Nigerian exchange scholar Samuel Ekwe combined for 27 points, 7 in the
fourth period, to help post the Red Lions' 11th win in 12 outings. They also avenged their
55-60 setback to last year's runners-up in the first round on June 28.
"The breaks went with us in the crucial period. We felt the pressure especially down the
stretch but it was good, so that we will know how to handle it," said San Beda coach Koy
Banal.
With the loss, their 4th in 12 matches, the Dolphins need to win their last two games and
pray that Letran loses its two remaining games to be able to forge a playoff for the No. 2
spot and the second twice-to-beat edge in the semis.
NCAA management committee chairman Bernie Atienza said that in case of a tie for second and
third, a playoff will determine who will be No. 2 at the end of the double-round
eliminations.
The Cardinals' entry into Final Four also ended the hopes of San Sebastian College-Recoletos
and University of Perpetual Help Dalta of entering the next round.
Both the Stags and the Altas, currently bearing identical 4-8 slates, could win no more than
six games, even if they sweep their last two assignments.
"I told Kevin de la Peña before the game to take a lot of shots, and that really gained for
him enough confidence," added Lim, who made it to the semifinal round for the fourth time in
his five years as coach of the Cardinals.
Peña, the 2005 NCAA Rookie of the Year, helped Joeferson Gonzales and Raymund Tiongco set up
a tight defense that enabled them to limit the Knights to only six points in the second
period.
Neil Pascual of Mapua scored on a fade-away jumper to stretch the Cardinals' lead to its
biggest, 46-31, 3:12 left in the match.
Gonzales finished with 7 points for the Cardinals, with Tiongco and Pascual adding six points
each.
Aaron Aban, who was drafted by Alaska into the pros on Sunday, topscored for the Knights with
11 points. Boyet Bautista, who was also picked by Purefoods in the PBA Rookie Draft, tallied
10 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals.
The Red Lions, seeking to end a 27-year-long title drought, managed to gain the upper hand
after 10 lead changes. They later saw PCU coach Joel Dualan ejected for two technical fouls
over excessive complaining to the referees.
Aljamal topscored for the Red Lions with 14, while the 6-foot-8 Ekwe had 13 points, 11
rebounds and 3 blocks. Beau Belga made 10 for the Dolphins followed by Jason Castro with 9.
FOR SAN BEDA, NO COOLING OFF
August 30,2006
www.ubelt.com
by JP Abcede
San Beda College was so dominating against Mapua Institute of Technology in their NCAA seniors’ basketball match on August 30 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium that the game was virtually over by the second quarter. So, it does not really matter that the final score was 73-56 in favour of the Red Lions.
“We want the eliminations on a high note,” said SBC coach Koy Banal as his wards limited the Cardinals to ten points in the key period with Pong Escobal scoring 13 of his game-high 17 points in the first 20 minutes.
From a 14-all tie, the Lions had 23-2 blitz that linked the two quarters, capped by an uncontested Micah Evangelista fastbreak layup for a 37-16 lead, 2:51 before the half. Beda had their highest margin of 22 in two occasions, the first one when JR Tecson fed Ogie Menor for a three-point shot, 46-24, 8:24 in the third.
San Beda did not feel in any way short-handed even if Riego Gamalinda was suspended and John Carlos Hermida is still out with an MCL.
“It is our obligation to the community that we have to step on to the court with the desire to win,” remarked the bespectacled mentor, who once suited up for the red and white back in 1981. The Mendiola-based squad last topped the eliminations in 1991 with Boybits Victoria then at the helm.
Besides the 17 points, Escobal also logged in seven rebounds and seven assists. Yousif Aljamal also had 17 markers, complimented by 18 boards. Menor was the other double-digit scorer for the Lions with 12.
Mark Acosta took advantage of the garbage period and notched 12 points for Mapua.
Further proof of the Lions’ dominance was exemplified in the rebounding department, where they collared 62, and at the assists category with (21).
The Cardinals started on the right foot, converting two three-pointers for a 10-4 lead. Escobal then tied the count at 12-all with a three, the assist coming from an Evangelista drive and kick play.
For the next ten game minutes, it would be virtually an all-Beda show with almost everyone giving his share in the pummeling. From there, the closest MIT could get is 13 when Sean Co converted a fadeaway jumper seconds before the third quarter ended, 42-55.
After Mapua coach Horacio Lim was whistled for a technical foul early in the final canto, he pulled out the white flag by sending in his reserves.
“Ang tingin ko lang doon, he is reserving,” observed Banal. “He’s trying to prevent injuries.”
The Red Lions would end the elims facing nemesis Colegio de San Juan de Letran on September 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.
September 13, 2006
San Beda vs. Mapua
br>
Lions Nail Final 4 Edge
By Joey Villar
The Philippine Star 08/24/2006
San Beda made a decisive run while gaining some breaks in the fourth quarter and hammered out a 73-64 win over Philippine Christian U to clinch a twice-to-beat semifinals incentive in the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium yesterday.
Earlier, Mapua shocked defending champion Letran, 54-49, to complete the Final Four cast.
The Lions got a big break when the Dolphins lost their poise after coach Joel Dualan was thrown out of the game early in the fourth quarter on technical fouls for repeatedly contesting referees' calls. They went on to post their 10th straight win and their 11th in 12 outings.
San Beda, thus, assured itself of one of two top berths with two more assignments on tap in the double-round eliminations.
"I've learned through years of coaching not to use vengeance to motivate the team. We focused on clinching twice-to-beat incentive," said San Beda coach Koy Banal as they avenged their 66-70 loss to PCU in the first round.
Yousif Aljamal scored 14 points while Nigerian behemoth Samuel Ekwe made 13 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to lead San Beda onslaught.
The Dolphins suffered a fourth loss against eight wins. Worse, they may play the next game with their coach serving a suspension.
Kelvin dela Peña, last season's rookie of the year, came through with his biggest game so far as he dished out 20 points including seven each in the final two quarters.
Mapua clinched the last slot in the semis on its seventh win against five defeats.
"Since I started coaching Mapua, we always beat Letran at least once each year. That's why I was confident we would win today," said Mapua mentor Horacio Lim.
The Knights struggled all game as they muffed 49 of their 70 attempts including 23 misses from behind the arc.
Pro-bound Aaron Aban and Boyet Bautista, picked seventh and ninth overall, respectively, in last Sunday's PBA draft, were the only Knights who finished with double digit scores with 11 and 10 points.
The San Beda Red Lions defeated the Philippine Christian University Dolphins, 73-64, at Wednesday's 82nd National Collegiate Athletics Association men's basketball game at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
ALL BEDANS - 2 teams and several players missing during the team picture taking.