Lions seize lead, Ekwe posts triple double

Nigerian Samuel Ekwe made up for a listless performance the last time out, dishing out a triple double job — 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 shot blocks — last night to power San Beda to an 84-69 victory over Jose Rizal University for the solo lead in the 82nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

It was a virtual repeat of their 81-51 rout in the first round although it was only in the third quarter where the Red Lions effectively took control with Ekwe reasserting his might inside the paint for the first triple-double performance in the season.

The victory was San Beda’s seventh against a loss as it broke out of a tie with Letran, which the Red Lions stopped, 57-49, last Friday.

In contrast, Bombers took their seventh loss in eight games.

The Red Cubs also rapped the hapless Light Bombers of JRU, 107-85, to grab the solo lead with a 6-1 mark in junior play. The Light Bombers fell to 4-3.

Earlier, Mapua played true to form and dominated the paint as it subdued San Sebastian, 76-57, to firm up its bid for a Final Four berth.

Jerby del Rosario pounded his way inside and finished with 21 points and lorded it over the boards with 10 rebounds to power the Muralla-based cagers to their fifth victory against three losses for the hold of the fourth spot.

"Our game was to attack inside and Jerby played really big inside for this win," said Mapua coach Horacio Lim.

The Stags reeled to their fifth setback against three wins to remain in fifth place.

The victory also avenged Mapua’s 68-76 lost to San Sebastian last June 28, a setback which the Cardinals used as the rallying point to boost their bid for a spot in the Final Four.

"I keep reminding my players that we lost that game not because they (San Sebastian) beat us, but because we beat ourselves," said Lim.

After a closely fought first quarter that saw fought to nine lead changes and five deadlocks, the Cardinals stepped on the gas in the second quarter, scoring mostly on power plays, to go into the break sitting on a 34-24 cushion.

The Cardinals then came out of the halftime huddle with a full-court press that took the Stags by surprise as Mapua turned the game into a wide-open contest before cruising to the victory in the fourth.

"I didn’t expect it we’ll beat them this bad, maybe they got tired in the second half because of our defense," said Lim.