Red Lions, Stags overwhelm lowly rivals
MANILA, Philippines–FIVE DAYS removed from its sensational conquest of San Sebastian, San Beda struggled early before cruising to an 89-70 victory over St. Benilde yesterday to keep top spot in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena.
The Lions got off to a listless start, trailing, 12-23, late in the first period, but came out strong in the next two quarters to seize control and collect their ninth win.
The Blazers, with only two wins to show so far this season, were hoping that the Lions, after trouncing the Stags, would play with little fire.
“It’s hard to match the intensity of our game [against San Sebastian] and it showed in the first quarter,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim. “That’s not us and I warned them about it.”
The Stags bounced back resoundingly from that loss to the Lions with an 81-63 drubbing of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the first game.
Jonathan Semira, thrust into the starting lineup for the first time this season, anchored a swashbuckling start, hitting eight of his 17 points in the first quarter, where the Stags zoomed to a 22-8 advantage.
Calvin Abueva had 16 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while Anthony del Rio finished with 13 points, all in the second quarter.
San Sebastian bloated the lead to 34 in the third period, before the Generals cut the margin to 18 near the end.
Stags coach Ato Agustin said the loss to San Beda served as an eye-opener for his team, although he said he’s not happy with the way his squad played in the fourth quarter against EAC.
“It’s a bad sign,” said Agustin, whose squad overwhelmed the Generals at the boards, 61-43. “I would have loved them to play smart and play with more intensity in the fourth quarter.”
San Beda slowly overcame St. Benilde’s advantage with Jake Pascual nailing nine of his 11 points to allow the Lions to grab a 33-30 cushion.
In juniors’ play, Baser Amer registered a triple double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists as San Beda routed St. Benilde, 82-69, for its eighth win in nine games. San Sebastian crushed EAC, 82-65, to improve to 5-4.
The senior scores:
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Semira 17, Abueva 16, del Rio 13, Sangalang 6, Maconocido 6, Bulawan 6, Pascual 5, Najorda 4, Raymundo 3, Gatchalian 2, Dela Cruz 2, Gorospe 1.
EAC 63—Vargas 16, L. Yaya 10, Mendoza 9, R. Yaya 7, Cubo 7, Diolanto 6, Chiong 4, Santos 2, Tuazon 2, Lapitan 0, Monteclaro 0.
Quarters: 22-10, 47-29, 69-39, 81-63
Second Game
SAN BEDA 89—Daniel 14, Semerad 12, Mendoza 12, J. Pascual 11, Marcelo 11, Hermida 9, Caram 8, Lanete 8, Dela Rosa 4, Villahermosa 0, K. Pascual 0, Lim 0.
ST. BENILDE 70—Lastimosa 19, Tan 12, McCoy 9, De Guzman 9, Abolucion 6, Wong 5, Argamino 5, Dela Paz 3, Sinco 2, Sevilla 0, Nayve 0.
Quarters: 15-44, 44-39, 71-60, 89-70
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Semira 17, Abueva 16, del Rio 13, Sangalang 6, Maconocido 6, Bulawan 6, Pascual 5, Najorda 4, Raymundo 3, Gatchalian 2, Dela Cruz 2, Gorospe 1.
EAC 63—Vargas 16, L. Yaya 10, Mendoza 9, R. Yaya 7, Cubo 7, Diolanto 6, Chiong 4, Santos 2, Tuazon 2, Lapitan 0, Monteclaro 0.
Quarters: 22-10, 47-29, 69-39, 81-63
Second Game
SAN BEDA 89—Daniel 14, Semerad 12, Mendoza 12, J. Pascual 11, Marcelo 11, Hermida 9, Caram 8, Lanete 8, Dela Rosa 4, Villahermosa 0, K. Pascual 0, Lim 0.
ST. BENILDE 70—Lastimosa 19, Tan 12, McCoy 9, De Guzman 9, Abolucion 6, Wong 5, Argamino 5, Dela Paz 3, Sinco 2, Sevilla 0, Nayve 0.
Quarters: 15-44, 44-39, 71-60, 89-70
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