San Beda dismantles Mapua, remains unscathed at 7-0

Robert Bolick of San Beda Red Lions. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

San Beda is still the king of the jungle as it held off Mapua, 85-74, to remain atop the standings in the NCAA Season 92 Men’s Basketball Tournament Thursday at San Juan Arena.

Robert Bolick and Davon Potts combined forces to hold off the Cardinals in the fourth quarter as the Red Lions improved to 7-0.

San Beda held a 20-point lead, 62-42, midway through the fourth quarter but the Cardinals slowly weathered the storm and cut the deficit to six, 80-76, in the last minute of the game.

Then Bolick capitalized on Allwell Oraeme’s blundered pass putting home his jumper with 57 seconds left to give San Beda an 82-74 lead.

Potts nailed the dagger three-pointer from the right wing with 32 seconds remaining in the game.

“Again, this doesn’t mean anything, you still have the second round, and after the second round, you go to the playoffs, and the playoffs those are the games you need to win,” said Jarin as he downplayed the Red Lions’ early dominance in the league.

“So like what I tell these young men, let’s just keep getting better and better, and let’s be grounded, stay humble, play selfless and that’s the only thing that we need to do. God willing that we win more games, and hopefully, again God willing, we win the championship.”

Bolick had a near triple-double for the Red Lions as he finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists while Potts took the scoring yoke with a game-high 25 points.

Defending MVP Oraeme led the 5-2 Cardinals with 21 points and 20 rebounds, but he also had seven turnovers.