Lions stay clean; Chiefs climb to second

SAN BEDA coach Jamike Jarin is setting the bar high for his Red Lions.

The Lions picked up their eighth straight victory at the expense of the San Sebastian Stags, 87-77, yesterday in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament, but their second-year coach was in no mood to celebrate.

Jarin barely warmed his seat inside the press room for the post game interview at Filoil Flying V Centre, when one statistic caught his attention.

“We had 32 turnovers,” rued Jarin. “I’m happy because we won but I’m mad because we have 32 turnovers. It’s disappointing.”

Arellano U grabbed a share of second spot with an 89-69 demolition of Jose Rizal U, while Lyceum stunned Letran, 75-72, to close out the first round at sixth spot with a 4-5 mark.

Jiovani Jalalon had 23 points and seven assists, while Kent Salado and Lervin Flores chipped in 13 and 12 points, respectively for the Chiefs, who seized control after outscoring the Heavy Bombers, 27-13, in the second period.

It was Arellano’s seventh win in nine games, tying Perpetual Help at second spot, while JRU, which was able to keep the core of its Final Four team last season, fell to 3-5 with a date against San Beda on Tuesday looming.

The Pirates leaned on Cameroonian Mark Nzeusseu and Reymar Caduyac in the second half to overcome Rey Nambatac’s late explosion.

Nzeusseu, a transferee from 2012 Cesafi champion University of Visayas, knocked in 10 of his 17 in the third period while Caduyac came through with six of his career-best 17 points in the final quarter.

Struggling in the first half, Nambatac atoned with 14 of his 22 points in the final period in an effort that eventually proved futile.

Cameroonian reinforcement Donald Tankoua scattered 20 points, spiked by 6-of-7 shooting, while wingman Davon Pott, Arnaud Noah and Jayvee Mocon combined for 30 points for the Lions, who tightened their grip of top spot. With reports from Miguel De Leon, Delfin Dioquino

The scores:

First Game

LYCEUM 75—Nzeusseu 17, Caduyac 17, Ayaay 12, Baltazar 10, Alanes 6, Magbuhos 5, Gabayni 4, Soliman 2, Marata 2, Alban 0, Serafico 0.
LETRAN 72—Nambatac 22, Balanza 14, Luib 11, Sollano 7, Apreku 6, Calvo 5, Quinto 5, Ambohot 2, Bernabe 0, Dela Pena 0, Balagasay 0.
Quarters: 20-14, 39-34, 55-47, 75-72

Second Game

SAN BEDA 87—Tankoua 20, Potts 13, Noah 10, Mocon 7, Sara 7, Presbitero 5, Bonsubre 5, Optana 4, Soberano 3, Bolick 3, Carlos 3, Tongco 2, Alas 2, Navarro 2, Adamos 1.
SAN SEBASTIAN 77—Ilagan 20, Bulanadi 13, Capobres 9, Valdez 7, David 6, Costelo 6, Calisaan 5, Mercado 4, Calma 4, Fabian 2, Johnson 1, Serajosef 0, Baetiong 0, Quipse 0, Gayosa 0.
Quarters: 27-23, 45-38, 68-53, 87-77