Fiery Lions keep top spot

ON THE day San Beda regained its fiery form, Perpetual Help and Arellano also refused to give an inch.

The league’s top three teams roared to critical victories yesterday to keep their lofty positions in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Red Lions kept the St. Benilde Blazers winless after a come from behind 82-64 victory, before the Chiefs leaned on another brilliant individual display from Jio Jalalon to subdue the San Sebastian Stags, 89-84.

Not to be outdone, the Altas scored a 71-59 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in a repeat of their first round conquest.

The Lions ripped the game wide open in the third period behind Donald Tankhoua and Davon Potts who combined for 32 points.
Held scoreless in the first half, Tankhoua came alive with 17 points in the last two periods, helping San Beda pull away for its ninth win in 10 outings.

“We were playing sloppy at the start but we made up for it by playing more aggressive in defense and creating scoring chances off it,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

The Lions forced a tournament-high 38 turnovers on the Blazers who suffered their 10th loss of the season despite taking a 20-14 lead at the end of the first period.

Jalalon exploded for a career-best 33 points and issued 10 assists as the Chiefs clinched their eighth win in 10 games, tying the Altas at second spot.
Not even a bad fall in the third period could stop Jalalon from finishing off the Stags in the last quarter where Kent Salado and Dioncee Holts also sparkled.

Salado scattered 11 including seven in the final 2.32 minutes while Holts completed a three point play after the Stags came within four points.

The Altas went to Bright Akhuetie down the stretch to put away the Generals who fell to 3-7.

Akhuetie had 13 points and the same number of rebounds while Gab Dagangon chipped in 18 points and Daryl Singontiko dropped a season high 17 points for the Altas.

It was another magnificent defensive performance from the Altas who once again held the Generals under 60 points just like their first round victory.

The scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 82—Tankoua 17, Potts 15, Sara 11, Noah 10, Bolick 9, Mocon 8, Presbitero 6, Tongco 3, Soberano 2, Optana 1, Adamos 0, Alas 0, Bonsubre 0, Navarro 0.
ST. BENILDE 64—Young 15, Fajarito 12, Pasamante 9, Belgica 8, Dixon 6, Haruna 6, San Juan 6, Pajarillaga 2, Castor 0, JJ. Domingo 0, Sta. Maria 0.
Quarters: 14-20, 33-29, 57-45, 82-64
Second Game
ARELLANO 89—Jalalon 33, Flores 12, Salado 11, Holts 9, Canete 9, Meca 6, Villoria 3, Enriquez 2, Cadavis 2, Gupilan 2, Gumaru , Nicholls 0, Aguilar 0, Rivera 0.
SSC-R 84—Costelo 24, Ilagan 14, Bulanadi 12, Mercado 8, Calisaan 7, Fabian 5, Baetiong 4, Capobres 4, Serajosef 2, Valdez 2, Johnson 1, Calma 1, David , Quipse 0.
Quarters: 9-16, 27-26, 65-55, 89-84
Third Game
PERPETUAL HELP 71—Dagangon 18, Singontiko 17, Akhuetie 13, Coronel 8, Pido 4, Eze 4, Hao 4, Sadiwa 3, Dizon 0, Gallardo 0, Oliveria 0.
EMILIO AGUINALDO 59—Onwubere 16, Laminou 15, Morada 8, Guzman 5, Mendoza 5, Diego 4, Serrano 3, Munsayac 3, Pascua 0, Corilla 0, Neri 0, Estacio 0, Aguas 0.
Quarters: 14-13, 35-26, 46-40, 71-59