FILE – San Beda in the NCAA Season 97. NCAA/GMA PHOTO
Defending champion Letran and bitter rival San Beda kept each other company at the top after disposing of separate rivals on Sunday, as the Knights and the Red Lions continued to gather momentum for a much-anticipated showdown in Season 97 of the NCAA men’s basketball competition.
The Red Lions leaned on James Kwekuteye and big guys Damie Cuntapay and JV Bahio down the stretch to get rid of the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers, 67-53, and register their third win in as many games.
But San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez admitted that they have a lot to improve upon, especially in the execution.
“We have to attack the boards and execute our plays better,” said Fernandez whose charges had a good fortune of meeting lightly regarded teams like Lyceum and Emilio Aguinaldo in the early goings.
The can’t afford to play at that level against the Knights when they finally collide on April 12.
Another slow start
Letran also picked up its third straight win after drubbing Perpetual, 68-57.
Bucking a slow start that characterized their previous games, the Knights needed the spark from new recruit Rhenz Abando, who scored 11 of his points in the third quarter.
“Our mindset is to treat each game like a championship game,” said Abando in Filipino. “This is a short tournament, so if we lose we won’t have a chance to get back.”
Louie Sanggalang and Allen Mina helped the Knights with 10 points each.
Letran’s defense controlled Perpetual’s dynamic backcourt tandem Kim Aurin and Jielo Razon. Aurin scored 12 points, but mostly when the outcome was already decided, while Razon failed to score at all.
Altas big man Mark Omega had eight points, but left the game halfway through the third quarter because of cramps on his thighs. INQ