NCAA: Hot San Beda Red Lions mangle Arellano Chiefs

Photo by Jan Dizon

MANILA—San Beda picked up another lopsided victory as the defending champion Red Lions mangled the Arellano Chiefs, 92-67, Monday to claim a piece of the lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil-Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The Lions—who now have crushed their first three opponents by an average of 25 points—turned the Chiefs into another hapless bunch with their pressure defense and solid games from Garvo Lanete, Anjo Caram, Kyle Pascual and Jake Pascual.

“We didn’t expect a blowout; we just prepared so hard for Arellano the last five days,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

The rout came after league newcomer Lyceum prolonged the woes of preseason pick Mapua with a 76-73 upset in the first game.

The Pirates, fast turning into a threat, rallied from a 13-point deficit, 39-52, despite the return of Mapua’s 6-foot-7 Filipino-Palestinian Yousef Taha from a one-game suspension.

Floricel Guevarra fired 12 of his 23 points in the final period as the Pirates rose to 3-2.

The Pirates caught up at 61, then forged ahead for good with clutch baskets from Guevarra, Allan Santos, Onofre Napiza and Chris Cayabyab.

“I just reminded them to stick to our game plan,” said Lyce-um coach Bonnie Tan.

Santos posted his fifth double-double in as many games with 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Pirates.

The scores:
First Game
LYCEUM 76—Guevarra 23, Santos 15, Napiza 14, Cayabyab 10, Lesmoras 4, Anacta 4, Mallari 3, Laude 3, Zamora 0, Lacap 0, Azores 0.
MAPUA 73—Mangahas 21, Taha 11, Ighalo 11, Sarangay 8, Nimes 7, Pascual 6, Banal 6, Cantos 2, Chien 1, Stevens 0.
Quarters: 18-21, 33-37, 51-57, 76-73
Second Game
SAN BEDA 92—Lanete 17, Caram 15, Pascual K. 13, Pascual J. 11, Semerad A. 9, Dela Rosa 9, Amer 6, Marcelo 6, Sorela 4, Semerad D. 1, Lim 1, Koga 0, Pontejos 0.
ARELLANO 67—Zulueta 16, Acidre 13, Lapuz 10, Pagayunan 9, Celada 8, Caperal 5, Palma 4, Casino 2, Estoce 0.
Quarters: 17-21, 44-35, 74-52, 92-67