NCAA season over for injured Tankoua

SAN BEDA College’s worst fears proved true Friday night when a test confirmed Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua tore his right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), ruling him out for the remainder of the 92nd NCAA basketball tournament.

Tankoua, who leads the Lions in rebounding, suffered the injury in the first period of the Red Lions’ 90-82 victory over Emilio Aguinaldo College and did not return in the game held Friday at Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

But the worst was yet to come as news broke out the same night that Tankoua sustained a broken ACL.

And while the Lions are still on top of the standings with a 10-1 card, Tankoua’s impending absence leaves a huge void for San Beda, which is hoping to regain the title it last won two years ago.

“We already knew last night (Friday),” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin. “We need effort from the whole team to make up for the absence of Donald (Tankoua).”

Tankoua averaged 16 points, 11 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in the first 11 games of the season.

Arnold Noah remains the only reinforcement for San Beda, which will now find it tougher to fend off the chasing pack in what is shaping up to be a tight Final Four race.

Arellano, coming off an easy 78-69 victory over winless College of Saint Benilde also last Friday, occupies second place, one full game behind San Beda with a 9-2 record.

In third spot is Perpetual Help (8-3), followed by Mapua (6-4), Jose Rizal (5-5), Letran (5-5) and Lyceum (5-5).