Red Lions, What Went Right? What Went Wrong?

You’re probably aware by now that the 89th NCAA basketball tournament is fast turning into a three-cornered fight as what Sportsmaryosep predicted before the season even started. There is not much gap among these three teams we’re grading below as Letran defeated San Beda, which downed Perpetual Help, which trounced Letran. So don’t be shocked if one of them emerged from the ashes as champion.

The key, of course, is to finish No. 1 because finishing No. 2 at the end of the double-round elimination means clashing with No. 3 in the Final Four. And we all know the worst these current top three teams could finish is at No. 3 right? So expect the second round to be a tougher grind for everyone because the mad dash to the Final Four will be two-tiered.

San Beda (7-2)

What went right?

Minus their first two games where they sleep-walked to a one-point win over the St. Benilde Blazers and a painful defeat to the Lyceum Pirates, the Lions, like a killing machine, have rolled and devoured almost everyone in their path. Ola Adeogun and Baser Amer have played greatly after that shock setback to Boni Tan’s charges. Art dela Cruz too. Never mind his forgettable performance in their loss to the Knights. Their defense has also shown wonders being the the No. 1 team in points allowed.

What went wrong?

Inconsistency. The Lions have shown some losses of concentration not just in their two defeats but also in some of their wins. One example is their game with Perpetual where they’ve lead by a mile, blew it before coming through in the end. Against Letran, they couldn’t cash in when they had the chance. Okay, let’s give them some leeway because they’re probably adjusting to the system being implemented by their new coach in Boyet Fernandez, who likes giving credit where credit is due. But I’m used to a team that literally fight and claw their way to wins, blowouts or otherwise. Have you seen how they swept their way to the tile just a few years ago?

What Madam Auring says?

I’m still waiting for that mighty ROAR by the Lions. Without disrespecting the other players, Adeogun is the best player in the league right now. He SHOULD be. For now, and probably the rest of the season, Raymond Almazan has outshone Ola. But somewhere along the way, Adeogun will impose his might. It will be a disaster if San Beda ends up No. 3. So time to sharpen up the claws and fangs boys because it’s going to be war from now on.

Grade: A-

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source: Sportsmaryosep, Mr. Joey Villar