Lion pride not high on strong start

MANILA, Philippines–Six games and not a scratch.  San Beda, aching to turn things around after coming up short last year, has proven to be indomitable early this NCAA season 86. And the greatest affirmation comes from its toughest competitor. “They’re the team to beat,” Coach Ato Agustin said, whose San Sebastian Stags share a same unblemished record with the Lions at 6-0. Last year’s finalists have played nothing short of brilliant basketball as of late, with its margin of victories at a stellar 24.4 points per game, highlighted by a 40-point roughhousing of the listless Emilio Aguinaldo Generals 101-60. “When you get those numbers, I don’t think you can comment on that. You can’t ask for more, ” said Coach Frankie Lim, who has been the man in the sidelines for San Beda for the last four years. In five games, every player Lim picks out and relies on to propel them to a win, provides significantly solid performances—from the starters to the far end of the bench. “All of them are ready. It’s good for us,” said Lim, who so far has gainfully exploited their sheer height advantage over opponents. Burly Fil-Am Sudan Daniel, who had a sub par rookie season despite high expectations, recently sizzled with a rare triple double performance of 16 points, 10 boards and 10 blocks in the win over Perpetual Help. Seasoned guards like Garvo Lanete and Borgie Hermida have also risen to the occasion in some of the matches where San Beda needed someone to take over down the wire. Hermida unloaded 10 points in the last two minutes of the Lions’ perilous win over Mapua, 69-64. Even Coach Louie Alas of San Beda’s fiercest rival Letran, whose squad has fared miserably, toting a paltry 1-4 slate, is impressed with San Beda’s brand of play. “If they continue to play like this, no one can beat San Beda,” said Alas at the heels of a crushing 77-60 defeat over the Lions. Alas also commended the Lions’ tenacity in defense, citing it as one of the best in the league he’s seen so far. But Lim knows that all the accolades thrown at the Lions and all the achievements they’ve logged this early mean nothing to what San Beda sorely lacks. “A championship,” Lim said. Until then, the Lions’ spotless record is just a clean slate, and nothing more. Photo by Jan Dizon (NCAA.org.ph)