San Beda sweeps first round of eliminations with win vs Mapua

By Xy-Zha Cabanlong

PASAY CITY -- The San Beda Red Lions managed to keep their first round record at a clean sheet by defeating the Mapua Cardinals; 69-60, Friday afternoon at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Calvin Oftana was monumental in the victory of the Red Lions, scoring 24 points.

The Cardinals actually put up a good fight, from closing the 1st quarter with a deadlock to engaging in countless of lead changes with the Red Lions in the second quarter.

The Red Lions got past through the hurdles set by the Cardinals in the second quarter, tallying a 30-28 score.

As the action continued after the brief break, the lead changes continued on until JB Bahio scored a triple to give the Red Lions a 7-point advantage; 40-33.

However, Mapua were unscathed as Paolo Hernandez successfully sank a triple for the Mapuan side.

The team was able to come as close as a point trail against San Beda, but after the return of play from a timeout, the Red Lions were fired up and ready to slay the Cardinals.

James Kwekuteye scored back-to-back triples to assert the lead for the Mediola-based cagers.

At the fourth period, Oftana sank a three point shot that seemingly decided the game's direction as Mapua was unable to recover in spite the efforts of Hernandez.

BOX SCORES

SAN BEDA 69 - Oftana 24, Canlas 10, Tankoua 10, Abuda 7, Bahio 5, Carino 4, Nelle 3, Doliguez 3, Soberano 3, Etrata 0, Alfaro 0, Noah 0

MAPUA 60 - Hernandez 16, Lugo 13, Gonzales 11, Bonifacio 7, Bunag 4, Gamboa 4, Victoria 2, Serrano 2, Salenga 1, Jabel 0

QUARTER SCORES: 16-16, 30-28, 49-45, 69-60

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