Red Lions stake unbeaten record versus Cardinals
RIDING high on an impressive victory the last time out, San Beda takes on another contender in Mapua today even as Jose Rizal U goes for back-to-back victories in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
With Davon Potts and Donald Tankoua finding their groove, the Red Lions completed a 37-point turnaround as they repulsed the Arellano Chiefs, 101-86, last Friday.
It will be the Cardinals’ turn to put the Lions’ title credentials to the test in the 4 p.m. clash pitting the league’s top two teams.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin. “We have to double our efforts against Mapua.”
Mapua bounced back from its lone loss of the season so far to Arellano with an 88-75 whipping of San Sebastian last Friday.
Cardinals coach Atoy Co likes his team’s chances coming off a big win over the Stags.
“We’re going into the game against San Beda with confidence,” said Co. “It will be a tough stretch for us starting that game (against San Beda) so hopefully we can pick up a few more wins before the end of the first round.”
Mapua will still play Perpetual Help and Letran in the first round, but the Cardinals are already enjoying their best start under Co, who took the coaching reins in 2013.
The Lions’ stock fell at the start of the season after losing almost their entire starting unit. But Potts has injected some much-needed firepower with a career-best 31 points against Arellano, while Tankoua has been a source of strength inside the paint despite giving up a few inches against some of the league’s top reinforcements.
Tankoua will have his hands full against Mapua’s Nigerian center Allwell Oraeme, the reigning Most Valuable Player whose averages are 17 points and league-best 19.2 rebounds and 3.2 blocks a game.
The Heavy Bombers look to pounce on the defending champion Knights, who are looking for a fifth win in seven games to break out of a three-way tie at No. 3 with the Chiefs and Altas.
Behind Tey Teodoro’s heroics, JRU hammered out a 60-59 win over Emilio Aguinaldo College last Thursday.
Letran dropped a 55-61 decision to Perpetual Help last Friday.
