Defending champions San Beda Red Lions overcame a furious fourth-quarter rally from the EAC Generals, 89-86, to finish the crossover round with a 6-3 record in Group A in their matchup last Monday evening at the NCAA Season 102 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
San Beda and EAC battled through a closely contested opening half, with both teams tied at 26-all after the first quarter and 44-all at halftime.
The Red Lions began to establish control in the third period, responding to EAC’s attempts to take the lead with a strong finish. After Kelly Coronel brought the Generals within one, 64-63, San Beda closed the quarter with a 9-3 run to take a 73-67 advantage.
San Beda carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, with Aldous Torculas and JC Bonzalida connecting from beyond the arc to help stretch the lead to 85-74 with just over seven minutes remaining.
However, the double-digit cushion proved far from secure as EAC mounted a determined comeback in the closing minutes.
EAC Unleashes 12-0 Run to Seize Late Lead
The Generals gradually chipped away at San Beda’s advantage before launching a decisive 12-0 run that completely changed the complexion of the game.
Joseph Nunag capped the rally with a basket at the 1:16 mark, giving EAC an 86-85 lead and putting the Generals on the verge of a major upset.
San Beda then struggled to regain possession and control during the frantic sequence that followed. After the Red Lions recovered the ball, RC Calimag became involved in another scramble for possession before EAC’s EJ Castillo committed a disruptive foul on him.
The call gave Calimag an opportunity to put San Beda back in front, and he calmly converted both free throws to restore the Red Lions’ lead at 87-86.
Calimag returned to the charity stripe on the ensuing possession and sank another pair, extending San Beda’s advantage to 89-86 with 4.3 seconds remaining.
EAC had one final chance to force overtime, but MJ Raymundo’s potential game-tying three-pointer missed its mark, allowing the Red Lions to escape with the victory.
Torculas Leads San Beda, Calimag Delivers in the Clutch
Torculas led San Beda with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, providing a steady all-around performance throughout the contest.
Bonzalida added 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Jimmy Reyes and Calimag contributed 11 points apiece. Calimag’s four consecutive free throws in the closing seconds ultimately proved decisive in preserving the Red Lions’ victory.
Castillo paced the Generals with 19 points, while MJ Raymundo finished with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Nunag chipped in 12 points but could not prevent the team from falling short despite its late surge.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Torculas acknowledged that San Beda needed to show greater toughness in the second half.
“Sabi ni coach Yuri (Escueta), we were too soft. Kailangan namin ng konting tapang at konting diin pa sa second half,” explained Torculas.
He also praised Calimag for stepping up when the game was on the line.
“I have to give it to RC, he showed his willingness to win, ayaw magpatalo. I have to give him the credit,” said Torculas.
San Beda will begin its next round of games against JRU Heavy Bombers on Friday, October 23, while EAC will look to bounce back against San Sebastian Golden Stags on Tuesday, October 27.
