If you missed the NCAA Season 101 Men’s Basketball action last November 19 at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City, here’s a recap of the third-to-the-last day of the elimination round.
T-Mc Ongotan with a Double-Double as Arellano Keeps #2 Spot Hopes Alive
The Arellano University was the third seed in Group A with a 5 and 6 record, just behind the defending champions Mapúa University.
With the goal of getting to the #2 spot for a Twice to Beat Advantage, they must take care of business against a 3 and 8 Lyceum of the Philippines University.
The Arellano Chiefs quickly imposed their defensive pressure, holding the LPU Pirates to only eight points in the first quarter as they built an 18-point advantage. The lead continued to inflate, reaching as many as 20, thanks to a balanced opening-half effort highlighted by Maverick Vinoya’s early scoring bursts that propelled Arellano to a 37-27 cushion at the break.
Lyceum attempted to stay within striking distance in the second half, fueled by the efforts of John Barba and Gyle Montaño.
Barba knocked down a three-pointer while Montaño converted a three-point play, trimming the Chiefs’ margin to 12 at 54-68 with under five minutes remaining. However, the Pirates’ push stalled as they struggled with turnovers and inconsistencies at the free-throw line, making just 11 of their 25 attempts.
Arellano kept its composure even when emotions rose late in the fourth quarter.
A brief exchange between Renz Villegas and CJ Libang resulted in technical fouls on both sides with 3:15 left, but that moment did little to rattle the Chiefs. Ernest Geronimo and T-Mc Ongotan delivered the closing blows, knocking down the final baskets that ensured the victory and completed a wire-to-wire domination.
FINAL SCORE: ARELLANO CHIEFS 74 – 56 LPU PIRATES
Ongotan once again stood at the center of Arellano’s performance, producing 24 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Vinoya backed him up with 14 points, four rebounds, and three steals, while several other Chiefs stepped up in support roles, including Basti Valencia with eight points and Anthony Borromeo with seven.
On the other hand, Barba led Lyceum with 13 points, the only Pirate to reach double figures.
The victory pushed Arellano to a 6-6 record and officially placed Lyceum into the play-in round.
The Chiefs’ stingy defense played a major role once again, as they limited the Pirates to 35-percent shooting and forced 19 turnovers that converted to 12 points on the other end.
Looking ahead, Arellano now faces its toughest challenge yet. Their three-game winning streak now which included victories over San Sebastian and Perpetual before beating Lyceum, has placed them within striking distance of a twice-to-beat advantage entering the crossover quarterfinals.
However, securing that incentive will require more than just another win.
Arellano must defeat defending champion Mapúa University by at least four points in their final elimination assignment on Friday to clinch a top-two finish, as the Cardinals own the quotient advantage from their first-round 83-80 triumph.
Bryan Sajonia Leads San Beda to a #1 Spot in Group B
In the 2nd game, the 8 and 3 San Beda University, which already is assured of the Twice to Beat advantage in Group B, played the 4 and 7 Emilio Aguinaldo University.
The Red Lions initially struggled as the Generals dictated the pace throughout the first half. EAC leaned on its veteran trio of Deo Lucero, Kyle Ochavo, and Wilmar Oftana to build a 40-25 lead, at one point holding a 15-point cushion even without head coach Jerson Cabiltes on the sidelines.
San Beda’s offense sputtered early, and their defense failed to contain the Generals’ confidence and ball movement.
Momentum shifted gradually in the third quarter. San Beda captain Yukien Andrada sparked the comeback with seven straight points, trimming the deficit to 54-57. Although the Generals still carried a 73-69 advantage as the game entered the final frame, the Red Lions had already begun to find their rhythm.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to San Beda. Their defense tightened, limiting EAC to just nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.
On the other end, the trio of Bryan Sajonia, Janti Miller, and rookie Jimmy Reyes took over. Reyes opened the surge with back-to-back triples before Miller caught fire, leading a 9-2 run that gave the Red Lions an 87-81 advantage.
Sajonia then delivered the finishing touches, converting consecutive layups before Reyes buried another three to seal the win.
FINAL SCORE: SAN BEDA RED LIONS 96 – 82 EAC GENERALS
Sajonia once again spearheaded the charge with 26 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Miller contributed 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists, while Andrada regained his touch with 17 points and seven boards. Reyes tallied 12 markers and Celzo added 11 along with nine rebounds, giving San Beda a well-rounded showing when it mattered most.
EAC, meanwhile, dropped to 4-8 and now heads to the play-in stage, where it will face JRU for a chance to enter the quarterfinals.
Lucero led the Generals with 14 points, while Ochavo and Jude Bagay added 11 and nine, respectively, with Joshua Tolentino also scoring 10 in the loss.
The victory pushed San Beda to a 9-3 record with one game left in the group phase, a rivalry match against Letran on November 23.
Regardless of the result, the Red Lions’ standing at the top of Group B is already secured, with Benilde trailing behind at 8-4.
