Javee Mocon leads the way for San Beda. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
NCAA rivals San Beda and Lyceum beat their separate opponents in contrasting fashion in the Filoil Preseason Cup on Tuesday.
The Red Lions crushed the also-ran Mapua Cardinals, 95-60, to formalize their entry to the quarterfinals while the Pirates needed to fend off the University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, 93-88.
Javee Mocon led the way for San Beda with 20 points in 21 minutes while Eugene Toba added 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks.
The Lions started slow before going on a surge in the third quarter where they outscored the Cardinals, 35-19.
“They (Mapua) played well in the first half, but the boys stepped up their game in the second half,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.
CJ Perez did a little bit of everything with 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, five steals and a block for Lyceum.
The Pirates improved to 3-4 while dealing the Tigers, who committed 28 turnovers, their sixth loss in seven games. Both teams, however, are already out of playoff contention.
Mapua badly missed the services of Exie Biteng and Daniel Aguirre due to injuries.
Without their two key players, the Cardinals were overmatched as they dropped their fifth straight game.