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 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.

“Sobra unexpected,” said Payosing, who had 11 points, 14 rebounds and two steals in his biggest game of the season. “Pay day, sobra ako lang nakakaalam sa hard work na ginawa ko sa team, basta manalo lang kami gagawin ko.”

Due to cramps, Cortez sat out a crucial stretch of the game.

Cortez would eventually return and wound up with eight points, eight assists and three rebounds.

“Ang gagaling ng players ko,” said San Beda coach Yuri Escueta. “When we were struggling in the second round, they’re the ones who wanted to go to the other round and they told me they want to go this way and this is our round.