Games Monday
(Filoil Flying V Arena, San Juan City)
10 a.m. — St. Benilde vs EAC (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — SSC vs AUF (Jrs)
2 p.m. — St. Benilde vs EAC (Srs)
4 p.m. — SSC vs AUF (Srs)

Heated and emotional action usually marks the games between San Beda College and Letran. Friday's was no different.

In a game marred by a bench-clearing incident, the Red Lions showed everyone why they won three straight championships by downing the hard-fighting Knights, 79-74, for their  fourth straight in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

Bam-Bam Gamalinda, a senior forward of San Beda, produced the biggest play of the game as he buried a huge triple that gave the defending champion a breather, 77-72, with 54.9 seconds left.

RJ Jazul, fouled by American rookie Sudan Daniel while going for a drive, pushed the Knights within 74-77 with a pair of charities.

A defensive gem by the Knights that saw veteran Borgie Hermida commit an 8-second violation gave the Intramuros-based squad a chance to cut the lead or tie the game with a triple.

The opportunity was there but veteran Rey Guevarra missed his three-point shot, thus ending their bid to snap San Beda’s three-game winning run.

In the second game, College of St. Benilde snapped a three-game losing skid by beating Perpetual Help, 64-63. The win leveled the Blazers’ record to 3-3, while the Altas dropped to 1-5.

The win improved San Beda’s record to 5-1 while the loss was the third for Letran in six starts.

Hermida made up for his previous backcourt violation when he nailed a pair of pressure packed free throws off a foul from rookie Kevin Alas, 79-74, 8.1 seconds left.

The bench-clearing incident happened when the 6-foot Alas accidentally elbowed the 6-foot-8 Daniel. With eyes red, Daniel tried to confront the Letran rookie. Alas’ older brother, Christopher, came to his rescue by running into his side.

Several San Beda players, anticipating a fistfight, also ran into the midcourt, but the coaching staff of both teams prevented their players from throwing a punch that enabled Letran coach Louie Alas – father of Kevin and Christopher – to heave a big sigh of relief.