Red Lions seek five straight vs Generals

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda goes for win No. 5 against Emilio Aguinaldo even as Letran clashes with St. Benilde today with good news that co-captain Mark Cruz’s one-game suspension has been downgraded to just a warning in the 90th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

The Lions, the reigning four-peat champions and currently one of two undefeated teams in the league –   the other being the Perpetual Help Altas (3-0) – will be eyeing to extend their amazing run to five against  the Generals at 2 p.m.

In contrast, the Knights, last season’s losing finalists, are in a bind after faltering to a 1-3 start including last week’s 69-60 defeat at the hands of the Jose Rizal Bombers in a physical game that saw the Letran coach, his players, a referee and a fan meted various penalties.

 Letran coach Caloy Garcia was suspended after he incurred two technical fouls.

Referee Ian Borbe was slapped a three-game suspension, five Letran players were also handed out stern warnings and a still unidentified Letran fan was banned for the season for throwing a debris on Borbe, as per league commissioner Bai Cristobal’s recommendations.

Knights’ co-captain Mark Cruz was also suspended but the management committee chaired by Paul Supan downgraded it to just a warning following an appeal from Letran athletic moderator and Mancom representative Fr. Vic Calvo, OP.

It means Cruz will get to play against the Blazers, winless in three outings, in their 4 p.m. showdown and hope he could help turn things around for the embattled Knights from an abysmal 1-3 start.

All eyes though are on the battle of the league giants featuring San Beda’s Ola Adeogun of Nigeria and EAC’s Noube Happi of Cameroon.

Adeogun is San Beda’s source of strength up front after he averaged 13 points, 9.25 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game but he will have his hands full against Happi, who has played better statistics-wise after he normed 14.33 points and league-best 13.33 caroms and 1.67 blocks a match.

San Beda though had more weapons in Baser Amer and Arthur dela Cruz, who dropped 18 and 17 points on Arellano U in a 90-81 win last July 12, but San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez thinks his team’s defense has been the key to their strong start.

“We have so many weapons and a deeper team but our strength really is our defense,” said Fernandez, whose Lions have allowed opponents to a league-best 63.3 points.