San Beda’s AC Soberano. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
San Beda bucked the absence of coach Boyet Fernandez and Robert Bolick to cruise to an 88-70 beatdown of Mapua Friday in the NCAA Season 93 men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.
AC Soberano stepped up for the Red Lions as he went 3-of-5 from three to wound up with 17 points and two rebounds, while Javee Mocon continued to churn out double-doubles, this time, racking up 11 markers and 10 boards in the win.
Donald Tankoua also had nine points and eight rebounds, as all 13 San Beda players were able to score a field goal in the tiff.
“I’m happy with the way we played despite the absence of Robert Bolick and Clint Doliguez who are two of our best players. What was noticeable was everybody stepped up, we had a ball movement and I’m happy that they didn’t look for a go to guy today. Everybody was able to score because of our ball movement,” said team manager Jude Roque.
MVP contender Bolick was banned from the game after his scuffle with St. Benilde guard Carlo Young in the Red Lions’ last game, as well as Clint Doliguez, who entered the court during the melee.
Fernandez was serving his one-game suspension for issuing comments detrimental to the league after the fracas, leaving the coaching to deputy and Red Cubs mentor JB Sison.
But Roque shared that the multi-titled mentor was still on top of San Beda’s preparations in the buildup for the tiff against the Cardinals.
“Coach Boyet always prepares the team and he was still very much on top of the preparations. When our appeal got denied, coach Boyet gave the gameplan to coach JB and he came in prepared as well,” he said.
San Beda survived its poor 39-percent shooting from the field as they turned a close 58-49 edge to a blowout thanks to its 30-point fourth quarter finishing kick to rise up to 10-1.
Leo Gabo paced the cellar-dwelling Cardinals with 17 points, four assists, and three rebounds, while Denniel Aguirre had 16 markers and two boards in the loss, which was their ninth straight defeat that sent them to a paltry 1-10 slate.