The San Beda Red Lions opened their Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup campaign with a hard-fought 95–89 victory over the CSB Blazers on June 12, 2026, in a contest that showcased the depth and resilience of both squads. Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd, the Red Lions relied on balanced scoring, tenacious defense in the second half, and clutch execution down the stretch to edge out their NCAA rivals.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams traded baskets at a brisk pace, neither willing to yield an inch in this early-season test. The first half was a shootout, with CSB’s perimeter shooting keeping them within striking distance. However, San Beda’s interior presence and transition offense began to tilt the momentum in the third quarter. By the final frame, the Red Lions had built a lead that proved just enough to withstand a late Blazers rally.

Key Moments

• First-half fireworks: CSB opened with a 10-2 run, forcing San Beda to call an early timeout. The Red Lions responded with a 14-0 spurt to take control, but the Blazers answered back behind hot three-point shooting to keep the game tight at halftime (48–46, San Beda).
• Third-quarter surge: San Beda’s defense clamped down, holding CSB to just 16 points in the period while extending their lead to double digits. A transition dunk off a steal with 2:30 left in the quarter brought the Red Lions faithful to their feet.
• Late drama: Down by 10 with under three minutes to play, CSB cut the deficit to four on a corner three and a fast-break layup. But San Beda’s poise at the free-throw line—converting 8-of-10 in the final minute—sealed the win.

Tactical Story

San Beda’s game plan centered on attacking the paint and crashing the offensive glass. They outrebounded CSB 42–31, with 14 offensive boards leading to 18 second-chance points. Defensively, the Red Lions switched effectively on ball screens, limiting easy looks for CSB’s guards in the second half. The Blazers, meanwhile, relied heavily on their three-point arsenal, hoisting 32 attempts from beyond the arc. While they connected on 12 of them (37.5%), the volume was not enough to overcome San Beda’s efficiency inside the arc (56% on two-pointers).

Standout Players

• San Beda – Team Captain/Forward: The Red Lions’ leading scorer poured in 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, grabbed 8 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. His presence in the paint created mismatches that CSB struggled to handle.
• San Beda – Point Guard: Finished with 18 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals, orchestrating the offense with composure and pushing the tempo when opportunities arose.
• CSB – Shooting Guard: A bright spot for the Blazers, scoring 27 points including five three-pointers. His quick release kept CSB within reach even when San Beda appeared to pull away.

Season Context and Impact

As a preseason fixture in the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup, this result gives San Beda early momentum and valuable minutes for their rotation. The victory serves as a statement of intent for the Red Lions, who are looking to build chemistry ahead of the NCAA season. For CSB, the narrow loss highlights areas for improvement—namely interior defense and shot selection—but also demonstrates that their perimeter-oriented attack can compete with top-tier opposition. The two teams may meet again deeper in the tournament, making this contest a potential preview of a highly anticipated rematch.