By Jillian Velasco
MENDIOLA, MANILA––San Beda College of Law men’s basketball team returned triumphant in the 2024 Association of Law Students of the Philippines – NCR Conflicts of Law, prevailing over Polytechnic University of the Philippines College of Law, 65-50, to snag the bronze on Sunday, February 25, at PUP Gymnasium.
This marked the Red Lion’s return to the podium in four years, after dropping to fourth place in 2020. San Beda last won the Conflicts of Law crown in 2019.
The Mendiola-based squad, who finished first in their bracket after the eliminations, found themselves in deep waters against eventual champions University of the Philippines College of Law in the semifinals, 55-59, but quickly regrouped and regained their composure entering the battle for bronze against PUP Law.
The men’s team quickly asserted their dominance over the hapless PUP side, riding the hot shooting of junior Wrabin Rivera and sophomore David Materum, who dropped 10 points in the second canto alone, building a comfortable 13-point cushion come the halftime, 36-23.
The lead ballooned to as many as 19 points by the end of the third quarter, 48-29, but PUP rallied behind the 14-point explosion of Mike Milca in the fourth frame to cut the deficit down to only nine points, 53-44.
San Beda refused to close the gap as Brian Badillo snapped the 10-0 run of PUP off a fastbreak, while Materum, Wilbert Casauay and Jude Collantes’ baskets restored the lead back to double digits until the final buzzer, 65-50.
Materum was hailed as the best player of the game with 20 points. His consistent performance also earned him a spot in the Mythical Five.
The UP Law MBT emerged as the 2024 champions for the first time in two decades, beating Ateneo Law in the gold medal round behind the heroic performance of season’s Most Valuable Player Jose Ericta who averaged 32 points per game.
Meanwhile, San Beda COL’s volleyball team missed a podium finish by a hairline after bowing to bronze medalists PUP’s volleyball team in four sets, 25-25, 22-25, 16-25, 12-25.
The team also dropped their semifinals match to eventual champions Ateneo Law in straight sets to wind up at fourth place.
THE BARRISTER 