Lions regroup to down Stags

SAN Beda’s Jeramer Cabanag (5) loses the rebound as San Sebastian’s Ryan Costelo, Jess Sibal and Michael Calisaan (from left) gang up on him in yesterday’s game at Filoil Flying V Arena. AUGUST DELA CRUZ

SAN Beda’s veterans took care of business in the final four minutes as the Red Lions arrested a fourth-quarter meltdown to slip past San Sebastian, 92-81, yesterday and claim a share of the lead in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena.

What seemed like another easy win turned into a nail-biter when a six-minute scoring drought hit the Lions and the Stags sliced their 17-point lead, 78-61, to just a point, 78-77.

But old reliables Ola Adeogun, Art dela Cruz, Ryusei Koga and Roldan Sara teamed up in the Lions’ final push to seal the five-time champions’ seventh win in eight games.

“We went out of the system when we got that lead,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin. “We can’t afford that, especially in this league. We can’t afford to put our guard down.”

Lyceum had an easier time earlier and dumped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 69-55, behind the all-around games of Victor Nguidjol and Joseph Gabayni.

“We’ve been trying to enjoy the process and not the results,” said Lyceum coach Topex Robinson. “It has been tough for us. But we just kept on playing.”

Despite the win, the Pirates remained in the cellar with the Generals and the Stags with 2-7 cards at the end of their first-round run.

Adeogun, who led San Beda with a double-double of 28 points and 14 rebounds, scored the Lions’ first bucket in the fourth quarter, 80-77, with 3:58 minutes to go as the Stags threatened to pull an upset after a 16-0 run.

Dela Cruz, Koga and Sara then combined for 12 points to help the Lions stay ahead, while holding the Stags to just four points in the last three minutes.

“We also missed a lot of free throws,” Jarin said of the Lions, who nailed only 14 out 31 attempts from the foul line.

Dela Cruz  finished with 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Koga, Sara and Pierre Tankoua combined for 33 points.

Nguidjol collected 12 points, 13 rebounds and a couple of blocks for the Pirates, who roared to a 17-7 start that gave them  a 40-25 gap at the break.

Gabayni, who teamed up with Wilson Baltazar and Shaq Alanes in the Pirates’ first-half outburst, finished with 11 points, nine boards, three assists and two steals.

The scores:
First Game
LYCEUM 69—Nguidjol 12, Gabayni 11, Baltazar 10, Alanes 9, Ayaay 8, Lugo 8, Bulawan 6, Mbbida 5, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Soliman 0, Lacastesantos 0.
EAC 55—Munsayac 15, Hamadou 8, Pascua 6, Corilla 6, Morada 5, Onwubere 5, Bonleon 4, Diego 4, Pascual 2, General 0, Mallari 0.
Quarters: 22-11, 40-25, 49-41, 69-55
Second Game
SAN BEDA 92—Adeogun 28, Dela Cruz 13, Koga 12, Tankoua 11, Sara 10, Tongco 8, Mocon 6, Cabañag 3, Solera 1, Soberano 0, Reyes 0, Bonsubre 0, Presbitero 0, Sedillo 0.
SAN SEBASTIAN 81—Costelo 18, Calisaan 17, Ortuoste 13, Fabian 10, Guinto 9, Bulanadi 5, Santos 3, Sibal 2, David 2, Capobres 2, Pretta 0, Mercado 0.
Quarters: 27-20, 53-39, 78-61, 92-81