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IT seems the Knights’ clogging “D� could contain anyone except Rogemar Menor.

The third year forward delivered when it mattered most as San Beda posted a decisive 76-68 win over Letran to move to within one-game in retaining its title in the 83rd NCAA men’s basketball tournament last September 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Menor, a member of many-time junior championships with the Red Cubs, pumped in nine of his 23 points in the 4th quarter, including a lay up and a triple to turn the 53-all deadlock to a 58-53 lead with still 6:28 minutes to go.

“I just followed what coach Frankie (Lim) told me in terms of plays and executions,� said Menor, who shot 2-of-3 from beyond the arc and hit 8-of-11 from the field. “He also encouraged me to shoot if I’m open. So I don’t want to let him down.�

He also added two baskets in the last two-minute mark, giving the Red Lions an almost untouchable advantage, 70-60, with only 1:37 minutes to go.

The victory has given the SBC Red Lions a one-game advantage in the Best-of-three championship series over the Knights, who needed to win the next two games next week to avoid a sweep and force a do-or-die Game 3.

“It wasn’t so easy and that’s a fact,� said Frankie Lim, the SBC mentor, said, referring to the game. “We really struggled in the first three quarters due to Letran’s defense, but my players played with a lot of heart to overcome it.�

Actually it was Letran that had an early edge going to second quarter, 23-14. The truth is, it was a dog fight from the opening tip till the end of the 3rd quarter.

Rafael Jazul, who led the Knights with 17 points, drilled in 9-points in the first quarter and Rey Guevarra fired seven of his 11 points to give Letran an early advantage. But that wasn’t enough to demoralize the Red Lions.

San Beda erased a nine-point first quarter deficit by outscoring Letran in the second quarter, 21-11, and by halftime, San Beda seized the edge at halftime, 35-34.

Pong Escobal, who got 17 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, provided San Beda its first lead – 27-25 – after hitting a three-point play with 5:05 minutes to go in the second quarter.

The Knights kept the game close in the third period as they leveled the Red Lions’ third quarter production, 13-13, to start the last 10 minutes of regulation behind by only 1, 47-48.

The last time Letran took the lead was when Jazul scored a jumper with 8:51 minutes to go for a 51-50 count.

San Beda team captain and pro-bound Yousif Aljamal, who struggled most of the way contributed 12 points, hit a triple to regain the lead, 53-51. While the Knights’ Carlo Reposar tied the count at 53-all after making two free throws with 7:34 minutes to go.

From there, the heroics of Menor came in. San Beda uncorked a scorching 13-4 burst capped by the five straight points of Menor and Escobal’s lay up for a 66-57 lead with 3:14 to go.

But San Beda, at last, was able to break Letran’s defensive schemes when Menor sparked the Red Lions’ rally.

“He is (Menor) really tough and he gives me a hard time of choosing who will guard him,� said Letran mentor Louie Alas. “The kid really played a lot of heart today. He outsmarted all my defenders.�

Last year’s Rookie-MVP Samuel Ekwe produced 14 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and swatted away four Letran attempts in 40 minutes of action.

San Beda registered 31-out-of-61 (51%) from the field against Letran’s 26-out-of-72 (36%). The game posted 11 deadlocks and 8 lead changes.

Individual scores:

San Beda 76: Menor 23, Escobal 17, Ekwe 14, Aljamal 12, Hermida 4, Taganas 4, Lanete 2, Gamalinda 0.

LC 68: Jazul 17, Guevarra 11, Faundo 9, Quinday 7, Gutilban 7, Daa 6, Reposar 6, Del Rosario 3, Dangcal 2, Cabonce 0, Melegrito 0.

Quarter scores: 14-23, 35-34, 48-47, 76-68

Tags: Jim_Viray, Knights, letran, NCAA-Finals, NCAA-Season-83, News, red-lions, San-Beda

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