MANILA, Philippines -- The San Beda University Red Cubs are on the verge of reclaiming the NCAA juniors basketball title after 94-80 victory over Lyceum of the Philippines University in Game 1 of the Season 95 Finals, Tuesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Jay Ynot and Justin Sanchez each scored 16 points, with Sanchez also grabbing 14 rebounds, to power the Red Cubs to a 1-0 lead in the best-of-3 series. Yukien Andrada also had a double-double with 14 points and 14 boards.

The Red Cubs are trying to win the NCAA title for the first time since 2015, when they completed a "seven-peat."

Earning the top seed after going 17-1 in the elimination round, the Red Cubs cruised to victory in Game 1, leading by as much as 19 points, 79-60, in the final period.

Back-to-back three-pointers by Lyceum's Jaerolan Omandac trimmed the deficit to 11, 81-70, with seven minutes left but it turned out to be the Junior Pirates' last stand before the Red Cubs pulled away again.

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San Beda had a massive 64-35 advantage on the boards, and their 32 offensive rebounds allowed them to notch 21 second-chance points.

Season 95 Most Valuable Player John Barba led the Junior Pirates with 21 points and 6 rebounds, but star guard McLaude Guadana was limited to 6 points on 2-of-10 shooting on top of 7 turnovers.

San Beda can clinch the title on Friday.

The scores:

SAN BEDA 94 -- Ynot 16, Sanchez 16, Amsali 14, Andrada 14, Alcantara 12, Delfino 8, Oftana 6, Valencia 3, Pelipel 3, Cabanero 2, Alao 0, Llarena 0, Pascual 0, Nicdao 0.

LYCEUM 80 -- Barba 21, Montano 18, Omandac 11, Gamlanga 10, Garro 9, Guadana 6, Garing 5, Panganiban 0, Caduyac 0, Ragasa 0, Santos 0, Dejelo 0, Dumon 0, Gudmalin 0.

Quarter scores: 25-14, 47-41, 67-58, 94-80.

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