By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
After four years, the boys from Mendiola are back at the top of the NCAA Men’s basketball.
Playing the game of their lives to regain their stride in the NCAA men’s hoops scene, the San Beda Red Lions are once again kings of tertiary basketball after taking down the Mapua Cardinals in the do-or-die Game 3, 76-66, last December 17, 2023, held at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
It wasn’t an easy path to success for the Red Lions. After three straight years of heartbreak and failed playoff runs, the revamped San Beda team is back and did it in a come-from-behind fashion.
Entering the final frame with a four-point deficit, the Red Lions were put in a critical situation after star player Jacob Cortez went down with severe cramps.
That’s where the team connived as a unit and played with grit, hustle, and tenacity as the Red Lions dominated the Cardinals in the final 10 minutes of the ball game behind the heroics of Yukien Andrada and James Payosing.
Andrada quickly let his presence felt in the opening minutes of the final quarter after knocking down a huge trey to cut their deficit to just a point.
Despite Mapua countering with a four-point swing, San Beda answered back with their own baskets to keep themselves within striking distance.
When the Red Lions needed an energizer to spark the rally, it was Payosing who stepped up to the challenge and put the crowd on their feet after doing the hustle work and rebounding duties.
Unfortunately for Mapua, their offense went cold in the final 10 minutes of the ball game and only managed to produce nine points compared to San Beda’s 23 made markers.
From a waxing hot start in the first three quarters, the Cardinals suffered a cold stretch and were firing blanks from the three-point area and the perimeter.
Andrada led the charge for the Red Lions after stuffing the stat sheets with 20 points and six rebounds while Cortez chipped in eight points and eight assists.
With his consistent outing throughout the championship series, Payosing was awarded the Finals MVP trophy after averaging 9.67 points and 12.0 rebounds.
“Personally, of course, I’m happy. At the same time, I’m very happy for my players. These are the guys who stayed and said to themselves, this is us, we’re going to work hard for this,’” said San Beda head coach Yuri Escueta after the win.
