Defending champion San Beda hung tough against the persistent University of Perpetual Help and eked out a 63-62 victory on Saturday, Oct. 5, in NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.

The Red Lions were held scoreless in the last 4:52 of the game but managed to survive the Altas’ late rally to post their first back-to-back victories in the season.

The triumph hiked San Beda’s win-loss tally to 5-3, putting them just behind co-leaders College of St. Benilda and Mapua (6-2).

“It’s a big win for us,” said Jomel Puno, who steered the Red Lions with 16 points and eight rebounds.

“At least we can put the past behind us and go forth with what’s ahead of us. It’s a big boost for our next game against Mapua.”

Puno drained a jumper gave San Beda a 63-57 lead with five minutes left in the game, but it turned out as the team’s last basket Perpetual rallied with back-to-back shots from Jearico Nunez and Cedrick Abis to cut it down to one.

Perpetual had the chance to grab the victory in the dying seconds but a three-point attempt from John Boral bounced off the rim.

Yukien Andrada fired 11 points, five boards and two assists, while RC Calimag chipped in 10 points for the Red Lions, who kept themselves afloat despite scoring only seven points in the fourth quarter.

Abis posted 14 points, Shawn Orgo had 10 points and 10 rebounds, and Mark Gojo Cruz managed 10 points and five boards in a losing cause for Perpetual, which absorbed its third straight defeat to slip at 4-5 in the middle standings.

In the other game, Letran outlasted Lyceum, 78-66, to hike its tally to 6-3 at solo third.

Jimboy Estrada paced with 19 points while Kevin Santos added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Knights, who finished the first-round elims on a high note.

John Barba pumped in 24 points, hauled seven rebounds and dished out three steals in a futile effort for Lyceum, which fell to a 4-5 slate and tied with Perpetual.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 63 - Puno 16, Andrada 11, Calimag 10, Gonzales 6, Sajonia 6, Estacio 6, Songcuya 4, Royo 3, Celzo 1, Payosing 0, Tagle 0, Lina 0, Bonzalida 0.

PERPETUAL HELP 62 - Abis 14, Orgo 10, Gojo Cruz 10, Pagaran 8, Boral 6, Nuñez 4, Gelsano 3, Montemayor 3, Manuel 2, Cauguiran 2, Pizarro 0.

Quarters: 13-13; 33-35; 56-48; 63-62.

Second Game

LETRAN 78 - Estrada 19, Santos 17, Monje 11, Montecillo 9, Javillonar 9, Miller 8, Nunag 3, Cuajao 2, Delfino 0, Jumao-As 0, Baliling 0.

LYCEUM 66 - Barba 24, Villegas 14, Daileg 9, Montaño 6, Moralejo 4, Paulo 3, Aviles 2, Peñafiel 2, Panelo 2, Cunanan 0, Gordon 0, Pallingayan 0, Caduyac 0.

Quarters: 22-18; 42-38; 57-47; 78-66.