Filoil hoops: Lions, Altas seek third straight wins

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda goes for a third straight victory when it faces league newcomer St. Clare in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup Monday.

A week after ripping the national youth team, the four-time NCAA champion Red Lions are the heavy favorites over  St. Clare in Group B action at 4 p.m. at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

Perpetual Help, which routed a pair of Cebu teams, also guns for a third straight win against a tough University of the East at 2:15 p.m.

“The team must learn that we shouldn’t relax every time we get the lead,” said coach Aric del Rosario as the Altas face their first Manila opponent after blasting University of Visayas (83-61) and University of San Carlos (71-61).

In Group C, University of the Philippines and St. Benilde aim for their first win at 12:30 p.m.

San Beda mentor Boyet Fernandez expects the Lions “to play hard from the opening tip,” the way they did in their 79-57 crushing of the Philippine Under-18 Team.

Tipped to win then, the Lions still played full strength against the young Nationals as Ola Adeogun posted 19 points and nine rebounds and Art dela Cruz had 18 points and 12 boards.

It’s the same toughness the Altas see from the Red Warriors, who narrowly lost to UAAP champion La Salle, 62-69, in the opener.

“One of my concerns is to get the others involved in the offense,” said new UE coach Derrick Pumaren.

Meanwhile, Centro Escolar University’s Rodrigue Ebondo captured the Purefoods Player of the Week honors for powering the newcomer Scorpions to a surprise 2-0 start.