After getting a dominant win in Game 1 of the semifinals match against the College of Saint Benilde, Head Coach of the San Beda University, Yuri Escueta, said post-game that it’s not easy to pull a victory against alpha teams last December 2, 2025, at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Pick Your Poison from the CSB Blazers
In the 91-72 win of the Red Lions against the CSB Blazers, Coach Yuri said that his team really just had to choose which player they would allow to score points while they tried to limit the other offensive players for the Charles Tiu mentored squad.
When asked by Rebanse about how well they planned on defending the CSB Blazers, Coach Escueta said it’s really not easy to get a win like this.
“Well sabi ko nga, it’s really a challenge everytime you play teams like this strong. Sabi ko, you have to put the maximum effort because you have to guard the painted area with [Shawn] Umali and [Allen] Liwag and then if you send help, yung shooters naman will get open so you really have to pick your poison against this team.”
In the 1st Half, Points in the Paint were in favor of CSB, 30 to 14, but the Red Lions were able to subdue the outside shooting of the Blazers as they went 0-of-11. But San Beda was very much in control entering the halftime break as they had a 48 to 37 lead.
An Imminent Comeback from CSB Come Game 2
Despite having a lead as much as 23 points, the 3rd Year Head Coach of San Beda then told the media that the back-to-back 1st runners up for Season 99 and 100 would bounce back from this loss come Game 2, so they have to stay ready.
“I’m sure they’re going to prepare much better, they’re going to be mentally [stronger], like nung second game nila against Mapúa, they were ready to shoot yung mga perimeter shots nila so that’s something we have to be ready for come next incoming game.”
At the end of the game, CSB only made 4 three pointers out of their 24 attempts.
#1 Goal After The Game: Make Sure We’re Healthy
In the last minutes of the 4th quarter, San Beda’s Agjanti Miller fell down after an and-1 play and was slow to get up.
When Rebanse asked for a short health update, Coach Yuri reiterated that their number one priority now, come Game 2, is that they must be all healthy.
“I haven’t talked doon sa PT [Physical Trainer] namin. Mukha namang ok siya, he was walking upright nung on the way out. Sabi ko nga, the number one goal for us now after the game is to check and make surewe’re healthy so and prepare for Friday’s game.”
San Beda University will look to eliminate last season’s first runner-up, the College of Saint Benilde, this Friday, December 2, 2025, at the Mall of Asia Arena at 12:00 noon.
