23rd in ’23 for Roaring Lions
MANILA, Philippines — San Beda needed just five years to reclaim its old place on top in the NCAA.
For Mapua, it would have to wait another year to start a chase to end a three-decade drought.
Yesterday, the Lions completed their grand return to the pedestal with a sleek, emphatic 76-66 Game Three victory over the Cardinals to bag the Season 99 senior basketball crown before a mammoth Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd.
It was the Benedictine school’s first crown since reigning supreme in 2018 and a league record 23rd overall that put it three championships ahead of closest pursuer Letran (20).
The glorious coronation was witnessed by 23,077 fans, including the Lions’ top patron Manny V. Pangilinan.
It surpassed the season-high 22,465 that trooped to Game Two at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.
Interestingly, it wasn’t even King Lion Jacob Cortez who delivered the biggest blows on the Cardinals.
It was Yuki Andrada in the deciding Game Three with his 20 titanic points including nine in their decisive fourth-quarter breakaway.
His five thunderous triples were like rays of sunshine on a gloomy day.
If the Finals MVP award would count impact as a factor and not purely statistics, Andrada would have won it.
It went to James Payosing, the unassuming forward from Surigao del Sur who worked from behind the scenes doing most of the dirty work and heavy lifting.
He didn’t even expect the precious trophy to land on his lap.MANILA, Philippines — San Beda needed just five years to reclaim its old place on top in the NCAA.
For Mapua, it would have to wait another year to start a chase to end a three-decade drought.
Yesterday, the Lions completed their grand return to the pedestal with a sleek, emphatic 76-66 Game Three victory over the Cardinals to bag the Season 99 senior basketball crown before a mammoth Smart Araneta Coliseum crowd.
It was the Benedictine school’s first crown since reigning supreme in 2018 and a league record 23rd overall that put it three championships ahead of closest pursuer Letran (20).
The glorious coronation was witnessed by 23,077 fans, including the Lions’ top patron Manny V. Pangilinan.
It surpassed the season-high 22,465 that trooped to Game Two at the
