‘Lethargic’ Lions book 12th win in a row
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
EVEN on a bad day the San Beda Red Lions just would not lose in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95.
This after they topped the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 65-47, on Thursday for their 12th straight win despite their attack not in its usual fluid mode.
Struggled to get its true game going in the first two and a half quarters of the game, San Beda picked things up for the remainder of the contest to keep its clean state in the season intact.
It was a tight affair to begin the game as both teams did not budge in their push.
John Amores posted problems to the San Beda defense but still the latter managed to hold control on the hot shooting of Clint Doliguez to take a 21-17 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
In the second frame, things continued to be close, with the teams fighting to a knotted count of 24-all by the five-minute mark.
The Bombers though would have a stronger finish heading into the break than the Lions, outscoring the latter, 7-3, to take a 31-27 advantage at halftime.
Calvin Oftana and James Canlas jolted the San Beda attack to begin the third quarter.
The Lions tied the score at 36-all with 5:12 to go in the quarter.
Amores and Agem Miranda kept the Bombers afloat with timely baskets to help their team to stay on top, 42-39, at the 3:17 mark.
San Beda though was not to be denied of a charge back as it sprinted to the end of the quarter with a four-point cushion, 47-43.
Finally found their groove, the Lions picked up where they left off in the third to begin the final canto.They opened things with a 9-0 run in the first four minutes to build a 56-43 advantage.
The run proved to be telling as the Bombers were not able to recover from it.
JRU would only score four points after that as it saw San Beda run away with the win.
Canlas led the Lions with 18 points and seven rebounds followed by Oftana with 12 points.
Evan Nelle finished with 11 points and four assists while Donald Tankoua added 10 for San Beda, which next faces the streaking San Sebastian Stags.
For JRU it was Miranda who top-scored with 14 points with Amores finishing with 11.
“Again consistency both offensively and defensively we have to address that. The players really have to wake up. But still I give credit to the boys for stepping up the way they did in the second half,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez after their win.
