SAN BEDA College beat Fil-Am Sports USA, 80-77, to remain undefeated in Division One of the SM-National Basketball Training Center National High School Championships on Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Less than 24 hours after the Red Cubs took down Ateneo de Cebu, 76-59, they weathered the incredible display by Fil-Am Sports’ 6-foot-9 forward center Kamaka Hepa, who looked to lead the visitors to a first win.
Hepa, who traces his roots to Pangasinan, compiled 27 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, seven blocks and one steal before he fouled out with a minute left to play.
Hepa wreaked havoc on the red Cubs as he singlehandedly stopped their inside game and got several players in foul trouble.
The guards kept San Beda in the match with their outside shooting. The Red Lions also got a lift from Fil-Am Sports’ 16 missed free throws and 26 turnovers—which the Red Cubs translated to 20 points.
Fil-Am Sports played its first match together as a team, as the players individually play for different high schools mainly in the US East Coast.
The visitors looked like they were headed for a win after Hepa tipped in a miss by Bruce Edwards to make it 68-61 with eight minutes to play.
Red Cubs point guard Evan Nelle, who kept San Beda within striking distance of the visitors with five points to finish the third period, continued his heroics in the payoff quarter with a drive, two steals and an and-one to cut the lead to two, 68-66, 6:50 to go.
Following an Edwards’s free throw to make it 72-71, Fil-Am Sports turned the ball over six times. Hepa, visibly tired after playing 39 minutes, fouled out, ending their chances of beating the Red Cubs.
Peter Alfaro led San Beda with 16 points, with Josh Tagala adding 13 points and Nelle 10.