MANILA — San Beda University leaned on the timely heroics of Ilonggo guard John Bryan Sajonia, whose late-game composure powered the Red Lions past the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 65-56, in the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball tournament on Saturday at the Playtime Filoil Center in San Juan.
With the game hanging in the balance at 52-54, the Pavia, Iloilo native delivered crucial baskets that allowed San Beda to stay ahead for good, anchoring a decisive closing stretch that kept their Final Four drive on track as they improved to 8-3.
The Red Lions had earlier flipped a 42-44 deficit by unleashing an 8-0 blast to open the fourth quarter — a run ignited by a Yukien Andrada jumper and back-to-back triples by Jimuel Reyes and Recaredo Calimag for a 50-44 edge.
JRU briefly clawed back, but San Beda’s trio of Sajonia, Andrada, and Agjanti Miller steadied the ship in the final minutes.
Sajonia finished with a game-high 18 points, while Miller supplied 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, shrugging off an illness that had sidelined him in the past days.
“I took a little step back in this game because I’ve been sick all week so this is like a first game back for me,” said Miller. “At the last second, the ball came to me and I just had to put the game away, that’s the only thing on my mind.”
Allen Laurenaria and Shawn Argente tallied 12 points each for the Heavy Bombers, who slipped to 6-6, while Harry Herrera added 10.
In the other game, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Pirates (3-8) avenged their first-round loss to the San Sebastian College-Recoletos Golden Stags (3-9) with an 88-74 victory.
Gyle Montaño fired 22 points, while Renz Villegas chipped in 14 off the bench.
San Sebastian was led by Jhuniel dela Rama with 19 points./PN
