There's a new marquee matchup brewing in the NCAA and it's called the Jomel Puno-Kevin Santos show. The two high-flying athletic big men spiced up the intense rivalry duel of San Beda University and Colegio de San Juan de Letran on Tuesday as they both hammered out career-high outings to pace their respective squads. And it showed how playing against each other brought out the best in them.
"He’s a really smart player. After he sets screens, he’s able to read where the defense is, that's why he’s always getting open," Puno shared. "I feel like that match-up made him better, it made me better.
" But it was Puno who got the better of Santos as the Red Lions eked out a 66-64 victory to regain their winning ways and improve to 4-3 after bowing to Arellano University last Saturday in a shocking fashion. The 6-foot-6 Puno churned out a career-best 22 points alongside 10 rebounds and two assists while also guarding the red-hot Santos, who finished with a career-high as well, posting 18 markers, nine boards, three dimes, and three blocks. And while his team got away with the victory, Puno tipped his hat to Santos for making his life difficult all game long.
"There’s really not that many bigs that can move like that, especially when he’s guarding me he was able to buckle on the shots that I thought he couldn’t reach ‘cause I’m not used to that," the second-year Puno added. For Santos' part, he stressed that he just played his usual game. "Nakipagsabayan lang din ako sa .