Red Lions devour Pirates; Stags grab lead

Photo by August Dela Cruz

MANILA—Defending champion San Beda snapped Lyceum’s winning streak with a masterful 89-69 win Monday in the 87th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lions, who leaned on a strong first-half effort, tied for second with idle Letran at 2-0 behind San Sebastian, which feasted on winless Perpetual Help, 87-60, for its third straight victory.

Calvin Abueva exploded for a season-high 31 points for the Stags, hitting nine of his 11 shots and making 13 of 15 free throws to send the Altas down to their fourth straight loss.

Sweet-shooting guards Garvo Lanete and Melo Lim combined for six triples in the first half for the
Lions, who clobbered the Altas by 30 points in their opening win.

Lanete made the most out of the space given by Lyceum’s zone defense, finished with four triples, while Kyle Pascual, getting extended minutes because of the absence of Sudan Daniel, wound up with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Lions posted a 43-30 edge in rebounding as they hardly missed the 6-foot-7 Daniel, who is out for the season because of a knee injury.

“Our big men are not as flashy as Sudan but they get the job done,” Lim said.

Dexter Zamora had 21 points and Chris Cayabyab chipped in 16 for league rookie Lyceum, which lost for the first time in three games.

Ronald Pascual also pumped in 29 points and Ian Sangalang chipped in 10 for the Stags, who pulled away early in the last two quarters.

The Red Cubs, fresh off their triumph in the Asean Schools Basketball Championship in Singapore, set up a double for San Beda, whipping newcomer Lyceum, 163-28, in the most lopsided victory of the season.

Applying an unforgiving press, the Red Cubs held the Junior Pirates from General Trias, Cavite scoreless in the first quarter on their way to the second biggest win in league history next to the 2009 San Beda juniors team, which defeated Angeles University Foundation, 168-24.

The Senior scores:

First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 87—Abueva 31, Pascual 29, Sangalang 10, Maiquez 5, Miranda 4, Semira 3, Antipuesto 3, Del Rio 2, Ferrer 0, Balucanag 0, Dela Cruz 0, Vitug 0.
PERPETUAL HELP 60—Jolangcob 13, Vidal 11, Sumera 8, Alano 8, Sison 8, Arboleda 7, Elopre 3, Thompson 2, Tonggal 0, Paulino 0, Parico 0, Asuncion 0.
Quarters: 15-15, 35-31, 58-45, 87-60

Second Game
SAN BEDA 89—Lanete 19, K. Pascual 10, Lim 9, J. Pascual 8, Dela Rosa 8, Marcelo 7, Amer 6, Villahermosa 5, A. Semerad 5, D. Semerad 4, Caram 4, Sorela 2, Koga 2.
LYCEUM 69—Zamora 21, Cayabyab 16, Santos 15, Laude 4, Guevarra 3, Lesmoras 3, Mallari 3, Lacap 2, Azores 2, Napiza 0, Anacta 0.
Quarters: 24-16, 42-25, 69-48, 89-69