Lions romp to record 54-pt blowout

MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion San Beda ripped Emilio Aguinaldo College, 118-64, to notch its 10th win against a lone loss in the 87th NCAA seniors basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The Lions came out with guns blazing, all 12 players fielded in by coach Frankie Lim scoring, as they romped off with a 54-point rout, the largest winning margin since the San Sebastian Stags routed the Generals by 46 (109-63) exactly two years ago.

“It’s a good game for us but then again, I think we’re expected really to beat EAC; they’re one of the teams we’re supposed to beat. We did very well, we planned very well and we executed very well our game-plan,” said Lim, whose team (10-1) stretched its lead over third-running Letran (9-2) to a full game.

San Beda’s 118 tally was likewise the highest since College of St. Benilde totaled 117 in a game against Arellano on July 31, 2009.

Asked if this was a statement game to the challengers to their throne, Lim said: “Depends how they take it. As far as we’re concerned, we’ll just play.”

Garvo Lanete topscored with 23 points, including 12 in the payoff period, while four other SBC cagers finished in double figures: Adler dela Rosa (15), Jess Villahermosa (13), Anjo Caram (11) and Jake Pascual (10).

San Beda also routed EAC the first time around, 103-62.

Emilian Vargas (14) and Franz Chiong (12) led the way for EAC (3-9), which played without injured rookies Joshua Torralba and Igee King.

In another blowout, surging Mapua trounced Intramuros neighbor Lyceum, 80-59, to improve to 6-6 and wrest fourth spot from the undermanned Pirates (5-6).

Fil-Aussie rookie Josan Nimes waxed hot anew with 20 points – his fourth straight 20-or-more performance – as Mapua racked up its fourth straight triumph, completing a climb from ninth to the Top 4.

Meanwhile, Jose Rizal University yesterday sought a reversal of its 65-71 loss to Lyceum in a second round game last Aug. 26, citing non-calls that affected the outcome of the contest.

Host University of Perpetual Help System Dalta chancellor Dr. Ramon Cercado, also the league’s acting Management Committee chair, confirmed JRU’s protest with the board to decide on its merit next week.