Victories keep Lions, Knights at helm

Games Tuesday

10 a.m. – Arellano vs St. Benilde (Jrs)

12 noon – Perpetual Help vs Lyceum (Jrs)

2 p.m. – Arellano vs St. Benilde (Srs)

4 p.m. – Perpetual Help vs Lyceum (Srs)

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda overcame a slow start and demolished a Jonathan Grey-less St. Benilde with a blistering second half charge to fashion out an 89-63 rout while Letran trounced Emilio Aguinaldo College, 86-76, as they remained tied for the lead in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Up by just one point after 10 minutes of play and seven at the turn, the Red Lions imposed their will and strength at resumption and overwhelmed the Blazers with a 24-11 run to pull away en route to posting their ninth win against two losses.

The Knights matched that record later in the day as the Muralla-based squad got back at the first round tormentor Generals with an emphatic win.

Mark Cruz, atoning for his endgame boo-boo in an 87-89 defeat to the San Sebastian Stags last Tuesday, unloaded 29 points for the Knights, who led from start to finish.

The Generals slipped to 2-9.

Arthur dela Cruz continued to dish out top form and came three assists shy of a triple-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds while Nigerian Ola Adeogun came back from a one-game suspension to chalk up 12 points and haul down seven rebounds.

San Beda’s bench, headed by the troika of Amiel Soberano, Ranbill Tongco and Cameroonian Donald Tankoua, also chipped in 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, making the bulk of their outputs in the third when the Lions pulled away for good.

While keeping the game close in the first half, the undermanned Blazers lost steam in the second, sorely missing the services of Grey, who was in uniform but was benched the entire game for disciplinary action.

The St. Benilde move came after Grey, who normed 17.89 points, 5.22 boards, 3.33 assists and 2.11 steals, won the MVP honors in the NCAA All Star Game last week.

The Blazers fell to 2-8.

In the other game, Cameroon’s Jean Victor Nguidjol pounded his way to 15 points and 17 rebounds and came through with four blocks to power Lyceum to a 71-67 victory over San Sebastian.

Mer Ayaay scattered 16 points to pace the Pirates, who posted their second win in row and third overall against seven defeats for solo seventh.

The Stags dropped to 3-8.

In juniors’ action, San Beda overpowered La Salle-Greenhills, 82-70, to remain unscathed with 11 wins while Lyceum dominated San Sebastian, 78-49, to improve to 7-3.

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 89 – dela Cruz 17, Soberano 12, Adeogun 12, Koga 11, Tongco 11, Tankoua 10, Cabanag 7, Mocon 4, Reyes 3, Bonsubre 2, Sara 0, Sorela 0, Sedillo 0

St. Benilde 63 – J. Domingo 20, Fajarito 11, Saavedra 10, Young 9, Ongteco 3, Deles 3, Jonson 2, Sta. Maria 2, San Juan 2, Flores 1, Nayve 0, Castor 0, Dixon 0

Quarterscores: 13-12; 38-31; 62-42; 89-63

Second Game

Lyceum 71 – Ayaay 16, Nguidjol 15, Bulawan 10, Soliman 8, Taladua 8, Alanes 6, Baltazar 5, Mbida 3, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Lacastesantos 0, Lugo 0

San Sebastian 67 – Costelo 17, Ortuoste 12, Calisaan 10, Guinto 8, Fabian 7, David 6, Pretta 3, Sibal 2, Capobres 2, Santos 0, Bulanadi 0

Quarterscores: 22-9; 37-21; 57-47; 71-67

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 89 – dela Cruz 17, Soberano 12, Adeogun 12, Koga 11, Tongco 11, Tankoua 10, Cabanag 7, Mocon 4, Reyes 3, Bonsubre 2, Sara 0, Sorela 0, Sedillo 0

St. Benilde 63 – J. Domingo 20, Fajarito 11, Saavedra 10, Young 9, Ongteco 3, Deles 3, Jonson 2, Sta. Maria 2, San Juan 2, Flores 1, Nayve 0, Castor 0, Dixon 0

Quarterscores: 13-12; 38-31; 62-42; 89-63

Second Game

Lyceum 71 – Ayaay 16, Nguidjol 15, Bulawan 10, Soliman 8, Taladua 8, Alanes 6, Baltazar 5, Mbida 3, Sunga 0, Malabanan 0, Lacastesantos 0, Lugo 0

San Sebastian 67 – Costelo 17, Ortuoste 12, Calisaan 10, Guinto 8, Fabian 7, David 6, Pretta 3, Sibal 2, Capobres 2, Santos 0, Bulanadi 0

Quarterscores: 22-9; 37-21; 57-47; 71-67

Third Game

Letran 86 – Cruz 29, Nambatac 11, Luib 9, Quinto 9, Racal 8, Apreku 7, Sollano 7, Balagasay 6, Balanza 0, Calvo 0, Bernabe 0

EAC 76 – Munsayac 24, Onwubere 22, Bonleon 7, Hamadou 7, Pascua 6, Diego 6, Mejos 4, Pascual 0, Corilla 0, Estacio 0, Mallari 0

Quarterscores: 26-16; 43-36; 67-58; 86-76