Lions roar to No. 12, shackle Bombers

Games today

12 noon – EAC vs. Mapua

2 p.m. – LPU vs. St. Benilde

4 p.m. – Letran vs San Sebastian

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda bucked a second quarter meltdown and used its vaunted defense to silence Jose Rizal U as the Lions held the Bombers to just four points in the fourth quarter to post a runaway 65-47 victory and stay unscathed in 12 games in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Lions struggled after seizing a 21-15 first quarter lead, enabling the Bombers to outscore them, 16-6, in the next 10 minutes for the former’s lowest output in years.

But the reigning three-peat champions put their act together after the break although they needed another quarter to complete the rout and stretch their win run to a dozen.

“I must give credit to the Bombers, they played tough defense in the second quarter,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. “But we made key adjustments in the second half with our defense and execution, and that helped us get the win.”

James Canlas topscored with 18 points while Calvin Oftana, Evan Nelle and Donald Tankoua chipped in 12, 11 and 10 markers, respectively, for the Lions, owners of the league-best average in points allowed with 61.2 points, shackling the Bombers, the league’s No. 2 team in defense, to their lowest output this season.

The loss was JRU’s eighth against four victories.

Arellano outlasted Perpetual, 91-86, later in the day to improve to 3-9.

The Altas slipped to 3-8.

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 65 – Canlas 18, Oftana 12, Nelle 11, Tankoua 10, Doliguez 8, Abuda 2, Bahio 2, Alfaro 2, Cariño 0, Cuntapay 0, Etrata 0, Soberano 0.

Jose Rizal 47 – Miranda 14, Amores 11, Delos Santos 5, Vasquez 5, Aguilar 4, Dionisio 4, Dela Rosa 3, Jungco 1, Arenal 0, Macatangay 0.

Quarterscores: 21-15; 27-31; 47-43; 65-47