Jacob Cortez paces the San Beda Purple Lions towards long-time rival Letran. -NCAA Photograph
MANILA, Philippines—A win is good, however a victory towards your rival is far sweeter and that’s precisely what San Beda felt after beating long-time enemy Letran, 68-63, within the NCAA Season 99 males’s basketball match.
The Purple Lions saved the Knights away from the win column at San Juan Area on Friday to enhance to a 3-1 report within the younger season after a scintillating affair.
“After all, successful towards your rival is all the time sweeter however we would have liked this win. We got here off a win towards Arellano, misplaced towards Mapua and received towards Benilde so successful back-to-back was wanted to choose up the combat early within the season,” mentioned coach Yuri Escueta.
“After all, understanding Letran, we needed to put together the identical manner however a win is a win, even when it’s a bit ugly, so credit score to the gamers.”
Tied at 58-all within the fourth quarter, each the Knights and the Purple Lions went on nearly a four-minute drought earlier than Yukien Andrada cut up his free throws to offer San Beda a one-point breather 59-58 with 1:11 to go.
The haymakers then flew from either side as Andrada and Kurt Reyson exchanged triples, leaving the Purple Lions with a one-point benefit, 62-61.
Reyson then sank a floater to place Letran up earlier than Alex Visser dropped the proverbial hammer with 22.2 seconds giving San Beda the lead for good.
Regardless of the Knights coming into Friday with three straight losses, Escueta clarified that he nonetheless anticipated a troublesome combat from the defending champions.
“Standings don’t matter once you play your rival, as a result of you already know you’re going to offer it your all. It was both them or us. We didn’t discuss staff standings. We simply got here in and thought of what we would have liked to do and what we wished to occur.”
Jacob Cortez paced the Purple Lions with 14 factors, three rebounds and three assists. Andrada practically had a double-double with 14 markers and 9 boards whereas Damie Cuntapay completed with 10 to his identify within the victory.
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Kurt Reyson scored a game-high 22 factors. Deo Cuajao and Jay Garupil tallied 13 and 11 markers, respectively in a dropping effort.
San Beda’s Yukien Andrada, coach Yuri Escueta and Jackb Cortez after win towards rival Letran
WATCH: San Beda’s Yukien Andrada, coach Yuri Escueta and Jackb Cortez after win towards rival Letran. #NCAASeason99 | by way of Melo Fuertes, Inquirer Sports activities
Posted by Inquirer Sports activities on Friday, October 6, 2023
