Adeogun-led San Beda rips EAC, eyes payback vs Letran

Ola Adeogun INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez didn’t know what to expect heading into Monday’s game against Emilio Aguinaldo College.

“I was worried due to the fact that I don’t know if Happi will play. Going into this game, I was nervous because we practiced really bad for three days,” Fernandez admitted, referring to the Generals’ Cameroonian center Cedric Noube Happi.

The 6-foot-8 Happi sat out his fourth straight game and is still out indefinitely with a bad back that has been bothering him since the offseason and Fernandez really didn’t have any worries throughout the game.

Nigerian import Ola Adeogun recorded his fourth straight double-double with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field that went with 12 rebounds in just 18 minutes and the defending champion San Beda put EAC away early in a worry-free 96-80 romp at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The win tightened the Lions’ grip of the top spot in the NCAA Season 90 men’s basketball tournament.

“I’m happy we came out with the win,” said Fernandez. “I’m also happy with his (Adeogun) attitude in practice. I’m hoping that he’ll continue his game.”

“I just play. Coach told us that we have to keep going up. I just play hard, follow the system and I’ve been doubling my efforts after the first round,” said Adeogun, who had been suspended for one game by team management as a disciplinary action after missing practices earlier in the tournament.

San Beda upped its record to 11-2 with one of its losses coming at the hands of old rival Letran.

The Lions eye redemption Saturday against the resurgent Knights and this time, with Adeogun in the fold.

“It will be a tough matchup for us against Letran. They’re a very physical team,” said Fernandez.

“I missed that game in the first round and I’m excited,” Adeogun, who was kept on the bench by Fernandez at that time, said. “We want to get back at them. I just wanna give back to them.”

Jan Jamon led the ailing Generals, who suffered their 10th loss in 13 games, with 13 points.

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