MANILA, Philippines — Defending champion San Beda University outlasted the gritty San Sebastian College-Recoletos side, 85-75, in the NCAA 100 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City on Saturday.
The Red Lions ended the Golden Stags two-game winning streak after playing strategic in the fourth quarter.
San Sebastian was on penalty early in the fourth canto, that allowed San Beda to capitalize on the freethrow line.
With San Beda holding the lead, 68-61, Reggz Gabat scored through a layup, and Raymart Escobido fired a triple to make it a two-point game, 68-66.
San Sebastian’s Paeng Are was fouled in the last three minutes of the match after fouling Bryan Sajonia, who completed his freebies for San Beda, 70-66
Gabat and Sajonia exchanged blows, 73-70, but Sajonia and Richi Calimag made timely threes to widen the gap.
Bryan Sajonia made 26 points, scoring 13 out of 19 via freebies, and tallied eight rebounds and four assists.
Team captain Yukien Andrada made a double-double outing of 21 markers and 11 rebounds.