Blazers set fire on Red Lions

St. Benilde coach Dong Vergeire may be right in saying San Beda, the weakest team on paper, is no pushover.

The defending champion Blazers went through a wringer before surviving the Red Lions, 103-98, in overtime yesterday in the NCAA basketball tournament at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

"As what I’ve said, no team is easy to beat this season. And our game against San Beda, a team almost everybody is counting out, somehow proved me right," said Vergeire as his Blazers narrowly defeated the Lions to grab a share of the lead with the Jose Rizal Heavy Bombers with identical 2-0 slates.

Mark Magsumbol and Sunday Salvacion delivered the crucial baskets in overtime to clinch their second win following a 71-65 decision over the Letran Knights in the tournament inaugurals last week.

The Knights bounced back from that defeat with an 89-71 rout of the Philippine Christian Dolphins in the second game.

San Beda, now playing under coach Rene Baena, suffered its first defeat after stunning PCU, 93-85, also on opening day.

In juniors play, it was La Salle-Greenhills over San Beda, 66-63, in overtime and Letran over PCU, 59-42. – Joey Villar