Lions clip Cardinals to gain solo Group B lead

Games Saturday

(FilOil EcoOil Arena)

8:30 a.m. – JRU vs UPHSD (juniors/seniors)

2:30 p.m. – Letran vs LPU (seniors/juniors)

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda leaned on a huge first half cushion in offsetting Mapua’s furious third quarter fightback to fashion out a 79-70 victory that snared it the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena.

Up by 13 points at halftime, the Lions suddenly turned meek in the third period as the Cardinals rallied their way back to within a single-digit deficit, 64-58, going into the final canto.

But San Beda woke up from that momentary stupor by making the stops when needed and hitting the shots that mattered to preserve the victory, its fourth in five outings.

San Beda coach Yuri Escueta was quick to point out the loss of concentration of his wards in the third period.

“I’m not really satisfied,” said Escueta. “We allowed them 24 points in the third quarter. Good thing in the fourth quarter we were able to make stops and get baskets.”

He also pointed at their surprisingly lack of rebounding.

“This is the first game we got outrebounded,” said Escueta referring to Mapua’s 36 boards to his squad’s 35.

Earlier, Emilio Aguinaldo College dumped Arellano University, 84-73, to improve to 2-3.

The Chiefs dropped to 2-3.

The scores:

First Game

EAC 84 – Oftana 19, Angeles 15, Bagay 12, Shanoda 11, Bacud 7, Castillo 7, Ochavo 3, Quinal 3, Lucero 2, Postanes 2, Devara 2, Villarente 1, Omandac 0, Loristo 0, Tolentino 0.

AU 73 – Abiera 24, Ongotan 13, Libang 7, Cabotaje 7, Geronimo 6, Valencia 4, Camay 4, Hernal 2, Vinoya 2, Langit 2, Borromeo 1, Acop 1, Buenaventura 0, Anama 0.

Quarterscores: 25-23; 49-37; 66-52; 84-73

Second Game

San Beda 79 – Miller 20, N. Gonzales 11, Puno 9, Andrada 8, Lina 8, Calimag 7, Estacio 7, Reyes 4, Etulle 2, Sajonia 2, Celzo 1, Culdora 0.

Mapua 70 – Cuenco 13, Sapasap 11, C. Gonzales 10, Delos Reyes 8, Concepcion 7, Nitura 7, Recto 6, Igliane 4, Escamis 2, Lazarte 2, Gulapa 0.

Quarterscores: 26-16; 49-34; 64-58; 79-70