Lions, Chiefs keep 1-2 spots; Stags stun Altas

SAN BEDA got the job done while Perpetual Help faltered as the Final Four race took another twist in the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Red Lions survived the absence of Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua to repulse Emilio Aguinaldo, 90-82, yesterday and keep the No. 1 spot.

But while the Arellano Chiefs also retained second spot with a trouble free 78-69 win over the St. Benilde Blazers, the San Sebastian Stags dealt the Altas a stunning 71-55 defeat.

Mired in an eight-game slump, the Stags came out rejuvenated against the surprisingly listless Altas, who fell to solo third with an 8-3 mark.
It was only the second win of the season for the Stags—almost two months since they beat the Generals to open the season last June 26.

The Chiefs rolled to an early double digit lead and never looked back on their way to a ninth win in 11 games. The Blazers matched their worst start since 2004 after dropping to 0-11.

The Lions drew a clutch performance from AC Soberano to post their 10th win in 11 games.

Soberano buried a triple that gave the Lions breathing room at 85-79. After the Generals guard Francis Munsayac knocked in a trey to cut the lead to 82-85, Soberano responded with another three to push the lead to six with 45 seconds remaining.

Davon Potts fired a game high 20 points while Benedict Adamos, a 20-year-old rookie transferee from Technological Institute of the Philippines, stepped up in Tankoua’s absence with 11 points. Tankoua failed to return to the game after sustaining a knee injury in the first period.

“We were a little disoriented after Donald (Tankoua) was injured but we found a way to win in the end by exploiting mismatches,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.

The Generals fell to their eighth defeat against three triumphs, dimming their Final Four hopes.

Sydney Onwubere had 19 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and a steal for the Generals but he also accounted for nine of his team’s 28 errors.

Alvin Capobres marked his 22nd birthday by leading the Stags with 13 points against a Perpetual Help team that entered the game as the No. 1 team in defense after allowing opposing squads to just 61 points.

The scores:
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 71—Capobres 13, Bulanadi 11, Ilagan 11, Fabian 10, Calisaan 9, Valdez 6, Baetiong 5, Sera Josef 4, David 2, Mercado 0, Calma 0, Johnson 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 55—Akhuetie 21, Hao 9, Pido 6, Coronel 6, Dagangon 4, Ylagan 4, Eze 4, Sadiwa 1, Dizon 0, Singontiko 0.
Quarters: 26-20, 41-28, 51-37, 71-55