Lions grab solo ‘NC’ lead; Bombers take spotlight

JOVANI Jalalon of Arellano soars for a layup off Bernabe Teodoro of JRU. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

JOSE RIZAL needed three extra periods to stop rampaging Arellano, 99-98, stealing the spotlight from a San Beda squad that rose to the top of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.

The Red Lions needed only two solid quarters to grab the solo lead with a 75-56 rout of the San Sebastian Stags.

The Heavy Bombers needed every quarter to log their victory—and then some.

Steel-nerved Jaycee Asuncion hit two free throws in the last 35 seconds of the third overtime to ice their fourth win in seven games.

“My players showed that we belong to this league,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses. “I didn’t ask for a win but a game where they will give their best. Tonight they showed that.”

San Beda was looking for an outlet to vent its frustration over a 83-76 loss to St. Benilde last week. The Red Lions did not have to look very long.

After a 2-2 standoff, San Beda went about its business with predatory sharpness, surging to a 22-point lead, 29-7, early in the second quarter.

The Red Lions scored in torrents and tightened up on defense, flaunting the character coach Boyet Fernandez looked for in his team.

“We came from a big loss, and I told the boys that whatever they will do out there will prove our character,” said Fernandez. “I thought they will be down after losing to St. Benilde but they came out strong.”

Of course there was a major shift in strategy as top guy Olaide Adeogun concentrated more on defense and came up with six blocks aside from making 12 points and 13 rebounds.

“I wanted to start off the bench but coach didn’t allow me,” said Adeogun. “I thought I would help the team by focusing on defense.”

Overall, the defense clicked as the Red Lions effectively contained Stags’ main scorer CJ Perez to just two points in the first half.

The Hong Kong-born, Pangasinan-raised guard, who averaged 19 points per game, somehow got away late in the game by sparking a mini rally to trim the San Beda lead to 65-51.

But Arthur dela Cruz doused it with a three-pointer and another basket as the Red Lions took a 70-51 buffer going into the fading minutes.

Anthony Semerad and Adeogun led that first-half blitz with 13 and 10 points, respectively as the Red Lions shone with a 14 of 29 shooting. On the other hand, the Stags flopped with a 5-of-27 clip in the same stretch.

The scores:

First Game

SAN BEDA 75—A. Semerad 19, Dela Cruz 14, Adeogun 12, Tongco 12, Koga 6, Mocon 4, Amer 3, Mendoza 3, Pascual 2, Cabanag 0, Sara 0, D. Semerad 0.

SAN SEBASTIAN 56—Perez 13, Guinto 10, Dela Cruz 7, Yong 6, Balucanag 4, Calisaan 4, Ortuoste 4, Camasura 3, Pretta 3, Fabian 2, Costelo 0, Aquino 0, Mercado 0.

Quarters: 27-7, 38-16, 59-36, 75-56.

Second Game

JOSE RIZAL 99—Asuncion 2, Mabulac 21, Abdulwahab 18, Paniamogan 15, Grospe 6, Teodoro 6, Benavides 6, Munez 4, Sanchez 2, Salaveria 0.

ARELLANO 98—Holts 25, Jalalon 21, Hernandez 13, Pinto 8, Agovida 8, Bangga 6, Caperal 6, Nicholls 3, Gumaru 2, Enriquez 2, Ortega 2, Cadavis 2, Salcedo 0, Ciriacruz 0.

Quarters: 8-12, 25-31, 43-51, 70-70 (reg.), 79-79 (OT), 85-85 (2OT), 99-98 (3OT)