Lions maul Cards, fan semis bid for No. 1

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – San Beda manhandled a listless Mapua side and posted a 65-41 rout yesterday to close in on the No. 1 spot in the Final Four for the seventh straight season in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Subic Bay Gym inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone here.

The Lions, already assured of a twice-to-beat edge in the semis, clamped down on defense all-game long then let their offense take its course to complete the lopsided win, their 14th against two defeats. They need just one more win in their last two games to secure the No. 1 spot after the elims.

In the nightcap, Perpetual Help bucked the absence of Nigerian Femi Babayemi, as it repulsed Lyceum, 64-53, to tie Letran at third with 10-6 records.

George Allen, Earl Thomspon and Justine Alano combined for 44 points to more than fill the void left by Babayemi, who served out a one-game suspension.

The Pirates fell to 3-13.

The Red Lions held the Cardinals to just six points in the second quarter and eight in the next to cruise to victory and slam the door shut on the Muralla-based squad, which bowed out of the semis race at 6-10.

“Our main strength is our defense,” said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc, whose wards defeated the Cardinals, 64-52, in the first round.

The Cardinals’ output was the second worst in the year after the Lions also limited the Jose Rizal U Bombers to an awful 37-point production in the first round.

Nigerian big man Ola Adeogun led San Beda with 12 points and eight rebounds while Anjo Caram and Baser Amer added 10 points apiece.

Although it was a lopsided contest, the match was also marred by tough, rough plays with San Beda’s Arthur Dela Cruz and Yvan Ludovice and Mapua’s Michael Abad and Andrew Estrella slapped with technical fouls.