By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE SAN BEDA Red Lions and Lyceum Pirates, last year’s finals protagonists and current league leaders in Season 95 of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, mix it up today in NCAA action at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

The number one and two teams in the ongoing season of the country’s oldest collegiate league, respectively, San Beda (6-0) and Lyceum (6-1) are out to keep their fine form in their scheduled 4 p.m. match and strengthen their spots in the top echelon.

The defending champions Lions are the lone unbeaten squad left in NCAA Season 95 and are showing no signs of slowing down on the strength of a well-rounded attack.

San Beda is coming off a major shellacking of the Perpetual Help Altas, 102-56, in their last game on Aug. 16.

It had firm control of the match right from the get-go, taking a 30-17 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes and never looking back.

Six players scored in double digits for the Lions in the win, led by the 15 points each of Donald Tankoua and AC Soberano.

Evan Nelle and Clint Doliguez had 12 apiece while James Canlas and Calvin Oftana added 10 and nine points, respectively.

Following their victory, San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez gave credit to his players for keeping up their high level of play.

“I give credit to the players for this win. They are out to prove themselves and giving their all. This win gives us confidence heading into our game against Lyceum on Tuesday,” the multi-titled coach said.

Out to stop the juggernaut of the Lions while keeping their win streak going are the Pirates.

Lyceum is right smack in the middle of winning five straight, the most recent over erstwhile unbeaten College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 74-71, also on Aug. 16.

The Pirates had solid middle quarters in said game before successfully fending off a spirited charge back by the Blazers in the end.

Guard Jaycee Marcelino paced Lyceum with 23 points followed by big man Mike Nzeusseu who had 17 markers and 16 rebounds.

Playing in the first game at 2 p.m., meanwhile, are struggling teams Perpetual Help (2-5) and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (1-6).

The Altas have lost back-to-back matches, including the 46-point rout at the hands of San Beda last time around.

The lost to the Lions prompted Perpetual Help coach Frankie Lim to take a leave of absence to think things over, reports said. In his place for now is Myk Saguiguit, Perpetual Help juniors coach.

EAC, for its part, has lost five straight games, the last one against the Mapua Cardinals, 76-66, on Aug. 13.

HERNANDEZ NCAA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Meanwhile, rookie Paolo Hernandez of streaking Mapua was named NCAA player of the week.

In their last two matches, all victories, Hernandez was solid for 15.5 points, four rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals.

The Cardinals have won three straight to improve to 3-5, good for sixth place, after starting the season with five straight losses.

In winning the weekly plum given by media covering the league, Hernandez beat teammate Laurenz Victoria, San Beda’s Tankoua and Lyceum’s Marcelino and Nzeusseu.

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