Prelude to a showdown: Lions, Stags rip hapless foes

MANILA, Philippines—San Sebastian and San Beda warmed up for their eagerly awaited clash with convincing victories Wednesday that extended their winning streak in the 86th NCAA basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.   The Red Lions used another sensational second-half effort to dump St. Benilde, 87-61, for their seventh straight triumph, a feat later matched by the defending champion Stags, who crushed the Arellano Chiefs, 69-58.   Calvin Abueva, staking his claim as the best player in the league, struck again with 17 points and 17 rebounds to power the Stags, whose victory was marred by the ejection of guard Erickson Gatchalian in the third quarter for committing a pair of flagrant fouls.   With a fluid offense and a suffocating defense, San Beda broke away in the third period and proved unrelenting in the fourth as it showed its readiness for the Aug. 18 showdown with the Stags, who swept the Lions in the finals last year.   “I think they’re all prepped for the big game,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.   Adler dela Rosa spearheaded SBC’s flying start in the second half to finish with 14 points while Garvo Lanete, returning from a one-game absence due to mild sprain, finished the job with 10 of his 12 points in the fourth period.   San Beda extended a 37-35 halftime lead to 59-47 by the end of the third quarter.   Lanete reeled off six straight points before Jake Pascual buried a jumper as the Lions put the game to bed, 70-50, with five minutes remaining.   “We started to make our shots in the third quarter and that sparked our big second half run,” said Lim, who still expressed concerns over their slow start in the first half. “We started limiting their scorers and their point guards.”   Rebounding proved to be another key for the Lions, who dominated the Blazers, 48-22, off the boards.   San Beda’s juniors squad set up a sweep of St. Benilde with a 71-67 victory over the Junior Blazers that jacked up the Red Cubs’ record to 6-1. San Sebastian dumped Arellano U, 76-58, and improved to 4-3.   The senior scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 87—Dela Rosa 14, Lanete 12, K. Pascual 11, Daniel 11, Hermida 6, J. Pascual 6, Villahermosa 6, Marcelo 5, A. Semerad 4, D. Semerad 4, Lim 4, Sorela 2, Mendoza 2, Moralde 0, Caram 0
ST. BENILDE 61—De Guzman 16, Lastimosa 14, Tan 8, Argamino 6, McCoy 4, Dela Paz 4, Amin 3, Sinco 2, Wong 2, Abolucion 2, Melocoton 2, Manalac 0
Quarters: 15-14, 37-35, 59-47, 87-61
Second Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 69—Abueva 17, Pascual 13, Maconocido 8, Raymundo 7, Semira 7, Bulawan 6, Sangalang 4, Gorospe 4, Del Rio 3, Gatchalian 0, Dela Cruz 0
ARELLANO U 58—Celada 16, Zulueta 13, Acidre 9, Lapuz 9, Ciriacruz 4, Del Rosario 2, Virtudazo 2, Tayongtong 2, Casino 1, Advincula 0, Caperal 0
Quarters: 16-22, 36-33, 56-47, 69-58