Lions scuttle Pirates, catch Knights on top

Lyceum’s Joseph Gabayni gets it on the forehead after eluding San Beda’s Ola Adeogun. Not one of the three referees called a foul. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

Defending champion San Beda put together a stellar second-quarter effort to coast to an 87-80 victory over Lyceum yesterday and tie Letran at the top of the 91st NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With veterans Art Dela Cruz and Baser Amer holding fort, the Red Lions struck the hardest in the second frame where they outscored the Pirates, 32-16, on their way to their 11th win in 14 games.

Dela Cruz boosted his MVP credentials with 25 points, including seven in the second period, and eight rebounds while Amer, playing his final year for the Lions, had 12 points.

“It’s nice when you come from a heartbreaking loss and you get good effort from everyone,” said coach Jamike Jarin, whose team slumped to an 86-88 defeat to Perpetual Help last week. “It augurs well for us going into the playoffs.”

The Lions led by as many as 20, 51-31, on Dan Sara’s fastbreak layup to start the third quarter. But the Pirates, already out of Final Four contention, refused to go away, closing in at 62-69 in the final period.

Wilson Baltazar and Joseph Gabayni willed the Pirates back into the game, combining for 38 points in the second half, but the Lions proved equal to every spurt with Ranbill Tongco and Dela Cruz delivering the telling blows down the stretch.

Baltazar finished with a career best 28 points while Gabayni tallied 24 points and grabbed 11 boards.

The win came with a price for the Lions as Sara, the starting point guard, sustained what appeared as a hamstring injury .

Earlier, San Sebastian snapped a three-game slide with a 91-77 trouncing of Emilio Aguinaldo College in a battle of also-rans.

Jamil Ortuoste picked up 24 points and seven assists for the Stags who improved to 4-10.

The Stags got an unlikely lift from Spencer Pretta who finished with a career best 19 points on 5-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc.

The scores:
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 91—Ortuoste 24, Pretta 19, Bulanadi 17, Guinto 11, Costelo 7, Fabian 6, Bragais 3, Calisaan 2, Capobres 2, Sibal 0, Alvarez 0, Santos 0.
EAC 77—Munsayac 21, Hamadou 20, Onwubere 16, Mejos 8, Pascua 5, Bonleon 4, Diego 3, Pascual 0, General 0, Corilla 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 51-35, 68-55, 91-77
Second Game
SAN BEDA 87—Dela Cruz 25, Tongco 14, Amer 12, Adeogun 11, Mocon 5, Sara 5, Soberano 4, Tankoua 4, Koga 2, Cabanag 2, Reyes 2, Sedillo 1, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0.
LYCEUM 80—Baltazar 28, Gabayni 24, Alanes 8, Nguidjol 6, Taladua 4, Bulawan 4, Marata 3, Lacastesantos 3, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Soliman 0, Mbida 0, Ayaay 0.
Quarters: 17-15, 49-31, 67-58, 87-80