NCAA champion San Beda College zoomed to its third straight win by clobbering Letran, 77-57, to formalize its quarterfinal entry in the 1st Philippine Secondary Schools Basketball Championship (PSSBC) yesterday at Chiang Kai Shek gym in Manila.
Drawing another stellar performance from former PH U-18 standout Arvie Tolentino, the Red Cubs leaned on a fiery first quarter to take the sting out of the Squires and stay unbeaten in Group B.
Tolentino also had 12 boards for the Red Cubs, who posted their biggest lead at 62-34, 10 minutes left in the game.
Unlike in their first two games where they needed the late game heroics of Tolentino and Alejandro Iñigo to beat Hope Christian High School, 95-91, and National University, 71-66, the Red Cubs hardly encountered any problems after a roaring start that saw them take a 22-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
NCAA Finals MVP Jayvee Mocon and Iñigo ably supported Tolentino by combining for 23 points.
In other games, UAAP champion Far Eastern U rebounded from a 58-66 loss to San Sebastian by downing Ateneo, 73-70; reigning Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association champion Chiang Kai Shek College shocked the SSC Staglets, 81-75, in overtime; and Hope Christian High School outlasted NU, 61-50.
The Baby Tams thus improved to 2-1 while the Blue Dragons and Hope Christian cagers evened their marks to 1-1.
Without MVP Jerie Pingoy, the Baby Tamaraws went to JJ Domingo for most of the crucial plays to steal the win from the Eaglets who controlled the tempo of the game in the event supported by Wrangler, Welcoat House Paints, Ironcon Builders, Jumbo Plastic Linoleum, Dickies Underwear, MEC Networks, Blackwater Sports and Hapee Toothpaste.
Domingo topscored for the Baby Tams with 22 points, including back-to-back baskets that gave them a 70-67 lead.