Robert Bolick. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Facing the team tipped to challenge their reign in the NCAA, the San Beda Red Lions gave the Lyceum Pirates a quick reminder of their strength and firepower.
Robert Bolick scattered 16 points to lead a balanced offensive as the Lions turned back the Pirates, 96-79, last Wednesday for an impressive start to their Filoil Flying V Premier Cup campaign in San Juan.
The Lions turned what was expected to be a dogfight into a rout, clamping down on the Pirates in the second half on their way to a come from behind victory at Filoil Flying V Centre.
“The players got too excited that’s why we started bad,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez whose team is coming off a training camp in the United States. “In the second quarter, I told them to relax and to prepare for the press. With coach Topex (Robinson), Lyceum is a different team. If we want to beat Lyceum we have to raise our intensity level.”
The Lions went ahead, 51-49, after Ranbill Tongco drilled a triple with 1:15 left in the second period, before ripping the game wide open early in the third behind Arnaud Noah and Clint Doliguez.
San Beda held Lyceum to 29 points in the second half.
In other games, Perpetual Help outlasted the University of the East Red Warriors, 72-68, for its second win in four games, while University of the Philippines nipped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 61-59.
The Altas saw their 13-point lead cut to one early in the final period before Gab Dagangon and Jack Hao joined forces to restore order for Perpetual.
Alvin Pasaol was the lone bright spot for the Warriors finishing with 19 points as Mark Olayon and Clark Derige were each held to six points.
Paul Desiderio tossed 18 points while Diego Dario added 14 points, including the marginal basket late in the game for the Fighting Maroons who improved to 3-0.
“We started flat but we calmed down ourselves and it was good that we were able to bounce back and it all started in our defense,” said UP coach Bo Perasol. “We need to learn some more on how to close out the game. I think we closed the game really bad but Diego’s shot bailed us out.”