By Ricky Manliguis
MANILA—No Robert Bolick to orchestrate and generate
points.
No Clint Dolinguez to set the tone from the perimeter.
And no coach Boyet Fernandez to call the shots.
Still no problem for San Beda.
Displaying the same potent and balanced weapon, the Red Lions easily disposed struggling Mapua U, 88-70, to extend its winning run to nine in the first game of Friday action of the NCAA season 93 men’s basketball tournament at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Playing without their talisman, coach, and rising star, the defending champions led right from the get-go to notch its tenth win in eleven games and tighten its grip for a twice-to-beat edge in the next round.
Barking out instructions for the first time, assistant coach JB Sison put a premium on defense as the Lions converted 18 turnover points, while pulling off 51 points from its second stringers.
AC Soberano led the Lions with 17 points, while Javee Mocon added a double-double effort of 11 and 10 rebounds. All players fielded in the game scored at least a basket for San Beda.
Bolick, one of the leading candidates for season MVP, along with Fernandez and Dolinguez, served their one-game suspension after the incident in the team’s last outing against College of Saint Benilde on Tuesday.
Mapua, which further plummented into the bottom of the standings with its ninth straight loss and 10th over-all, were led by Leo Gabo’s 17 points. Denniel Aguirre and JP Nieles were the other Cardinals in double-figures with 16 and 13 markers in that order.
The Scores:
San Beda 88—Soberano 17, Mocon 11, Tankoua 9, Noah 9,
Cabanag 8, Potts 8, Oftana 6, Tongco 5, Adamos 5, Abuda 4, Presbitero 2, Carino 2, Bahio 2.
Mapua 70—Gabo 17, Aguirre 16, Nieles 13, Pelayo 9, Bunag
8, Raflores 4, Victoria 3, Orquina 0.
Quarterscores: 18-17, 40-32, 58-49, 88-70.
Follow him on Twitter: @Teaching_Hero
.JPG)
.jpg)
