Red Cubs, Baby Chiefs overwhelm NCAA rivals
SAN BEDA hardly looked like it fielded a retooled roster as the Red Cubs kicked off their title defense with an 80-63 rout of Mapua yesterday in the NCAA juniors basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
Germy Mahinay and Joshua Tagala dropped 13 points each to lead the Cubs, who lost 10 players from last year’s lineup.
“It’s a step-by-step process,” said San Beda coach JB Sison. “This is just the first game, so there’s really nothing to celebrate about.”
In the second game, Ira Spencer Bataller fired 14 points to lead Arellano to a 103-34 whipping of Jose Rizal University.
The Baby Chiefs never looked back after a 22-4 start on the way to a 69-point victory.
Samuel Abuhijle added 11 points and John Lagumen also scored 10 for the Cubs, who are vying for a record seventh straight title.
Sison said the Cubs have a long way to go even after repeating over the Robins, the losing finalist last season.
“We lost two-thirds of our players from last season, so we’re back from scratch,” said Sison.
The scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 80—Tagala 13, Mahinay 13, Abuhijle 11, Lagumen 10, Bordeus 8, Alfaro 8, Nelle 7, Dela Rosa 5, Velasquez 3, Etrata 2, Barbero 0, Nayve 0, Bonalos 0.
MAPUA 63—Junsay 19, Enriquez 16, Salenga 16, Concepcion 4, Yco 4, Velvez 2, Bonifacio 2, Camilos 0, Badillo 0, Garcia 0, Uson 0.
Quarters: 17-12, 36-28, 62-49, 80-63
Second Game
ARELLANO 103—Bataller 14, Sunga 12, Abadeza 11, Fornis 11, Dela Torre 10, Calapine 8, Espiritu 8, Bontao 7, Velasco 5, Tamayo 5, De Leon 4, Dularte 4, Torrejos 2, Danas 2, Canete 0.
JRU 34—Sta. Maria 13, Teirra 8, Baliad 7, Macompas 2, Carreon 2, Nazareno 2, Sicat 0, Tan 0.
Quarters: 22-4, 45-10, 76-24, 103-34
