San Beda used a second quarter assault to dispatch Perpetual Help, 78-71, and assure itself of at least a play-in spot in the playoffs after picking up its sixth win in as many games in the NCAA Season 97 at the La Salle Green Hills Gym on Wednesday, April 20.
The Red Lions went on a scoring spree in the second canto, exploding for 32 points to build a double-digit spread which they never let go to move one win away from securing a spot in the Final Four.
James Kwekuteye was at the forefront of the attack with 18 points while Yukien Andrada provided the spark in the telling run to finish with an efficient 15 markers in just 16 minutes of play.
“I do thank my players because they really played within our system, they really followed our game plan even though Perpetual came back a little bit in the fourth quarter but I'm happy we gathered and we stopped the bleeding and we won this game,” said San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez whose Red Lions flexed their depth anew with 26 points off the bench during the second quarter explosion.
Kim Aurin paced the Altas with 16 points while Jielo Razon and Cris Pagaran added 15 and 13 markers respectively.
With Perpetual hanging tough in the opening frame, San Beda stepped its foot on the gas pedal, embarking to a 13-1 start in the second frame capped by a Winston Ynot trey and a Rhayyan Amsali transition layup to build a 35-23 lead.
The Red Lions left the Altas in the dust from that point as they kept the double digit spread at the half, 48-34, and after the third canto, 64-50.
Perpetual made a last-ditch run with a quick 8-0 spurt to cut the deficit to single digits, 74-67 late but it was easily doused by back-to-back baskets from Peter Alfaro and Kwekuteye.
The win also came as a huge confidence booster for the Red Lions ahead of the grueling final stretch of their schedule where they are set to face three teams currently resting in the upper half of the standings.
San Beda has the chance to secure a Final Four berth when it guns for win No. 7 against Mapua, before rounding up its schedule against St. Benilde and Letran.
The Scores:
SAN BEDA 78 -- Kwekuteye 18, Andrada 15, Amsali 9, Alfaro 9, Cuntapay 6, Ynot 5, Penuela 4, Bahio 4, Jopia 4, Gallego 2, Cometa 2, Villejo 0, Visser 0, Sanchez 0, Abuda 0.
PERPETUAL 71 -- Aurin 16, Razon 15, Pagaran 13, Martel 12, Ferreras 3, Boral 3, Egan 2, Sevilla 2, Abis 2, Omega 2, Cuevas 1, Barcuma 0, Nunez 0, Kawamura 0.
Quarters: 16-16, 48-34, 64-50, 78-71