Games Tuesday
(The Arena, San Juan City)
12 noon – San Beda vs SSCR (Srs.)
2 p.m. – Lyceum vs Mapua (Srs.)
4 p.m. – JRU vs Letran (Srs.)
San Beda endured a shaky second half as it survived pesky Emilio Aguinaldo College, 90-82, yesterday to stay on top of the leaderboard in NCAA men’s basketball at The Arena in San Juan City.
The Red Lions recovered from a third-quarter surge from the General where they saw their 12-point lead collapse. But they kept their composure in the final minute to snatch their 10th win in 11 outings.
Davon Potts spearheaded San Beda’s assault with 21 points, 15 in the second period while grabbing six rebounds; Radge Tongco and Javee Mocon added 11 and 10 markers, respectively.
It was rookie transferee Benedict Adamos, however, who took the spotlight, delivering 11 points to step up for injured Donald Tankoua.
Tankoua was taken out of the game from a bad fall midway the opening quarter. The status of his injury was still unknown at presstime after he was taken to a hospital.
“Na-off kami after Tankoua’s injury. We got scattered-brains in the third quarter. But I have to give credit to EAC because they fought well,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin.
EAC rattled San Beda early in the third when the Generals unleashed a 14-2 spurt courtesy of Francis Munsayac, Igee King and Hamadou Laminou to grab the upper hand, 59-58, from a 44-56 deficit.
The Red Lions retaliated with a 12-4 run for a 78-71 lead in the fourth and protected their lead until the final minute with AC Soberano sinking a crucial triple and Javee Mocon’s jumper sealing the win.
EAC dropped to 3-8 despite the monstrous efforts of Sidney Onwubere, who had 19 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and six blocks, as well as Laminou, who finished with 18 points, 17 boards and five blocks.
Earlier, San Sebastian finally snapped its nine-game losing streak with a shocking 71-55 thrashing of University of Perpetual Help.
Leading 26-20 after one quarter, the Stags limited the Altas to only 17 points in the next two periods and pulled away for good to improve to 2-9.
Alvin Capobres shot 13 points and grabbed five boards, while Allyn Bulunadi and Regille Ilagan chipped in 11 markers each for San Sebastian, whose other win came last June 26 against College of St. Benilde (54-49).
Scores
SAN SEBASTIAN 71 – Capobres 13, Bulunadi 11, Ilagan 11, Fabian 10, Calisaan 9, Valdez 6, Baetiong 5, Serajosef 4, David 2, Mercado 0, Calma 0, Johnson 0.
PERPETUAL 55 – Akhuetie 21, Hao 9, Pido 6, Coronel 6, Dagangon 4, Ilagan 4, Eze 4, Sadiwa 1, Dizon 0, Singontiko 0.
Quarters: 26-20, 41-28, 51-37, 71-55.
Second Game
SAN BEDA 90 – Potts 21, Tongco 12, Adamos 11, Mocon 10, Bolick 8, Soberano 8, Noah 8, Tankoua 5, Presbitero 3, Optana 2, Alas 2, Sara 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0.
EAC 82 – Onwubere 19, Laminou 18, Munsayac 15, King 14, Morada 13, Diego 2, Pascua 1, Neri 0, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarters: 27-18, 48-37, 66-67, 90-82.