Red Lions Successfully Defend FMC Open Division Title

New year, slightly different look, same result. In a rematch of last year’s Fr. Martin Cup Open Division Finals, the reigning NCAA champions once again dispatched the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 76-62.

The previous year, the Red Lions scored 76 as well, though they gave up three more points, allowing the Bombers to score 65.

“Superman” Sudan Daniel top-scored for San Beda with 14 points, all in the second half. Jess Villahermosa poured in 13, and Rome Dela Rosa added 10. JRU was led by Romnick Mendoza’s game high 15 points. Nathaniel Matute scored 11 and Jeckster Apinan contributed 10, 7 in the payoff period.

This one was rarely in doubt for San Beda, with a foreign player-less JRU never tasting the lead.

It was closest at the early stages of the game, when Beda led by just a solitary point, 2-1, but it all went downhill from there, as they would go on an 18-8 run to close the first quarter.

JRU would get within seven points multiple times in the third quarter, thanks to their pressure defense, but with the score at 45-38, the Lions uncorked a 6-0 blast tagging it at 51-38.

Moments later, after a Daniel put-back slam made it 53-42, a scuffle on the floor, caused by players from both sides diving for a loose ball resulted in two JRU players, Ralph Monserat and John Lope, getting ejected.

The call only served to inspire JRU, as they scored 4 straight to close the third at 53-46. The rally continued in the fourth, as JRU came out guns blazing, pulling to within 2, 55-53, but a timely triple by Villahermosa quelled that rally.

And such would become the theme of the last quarter, as unheralded point guards John Paolo Pontejos and Ryusei Koga hit a triple each to stop JRU runs, with the capper being another Villahermosa triple with seconds left in the game.

Despite the large margin of victory, JRU could have made this a lot harder for the Lions had they just made their free throws. The Bombers shot a sickening 6 of 20 from the foul line in the first half, though they calmed down later on and found the range to shoot 11 of 13 from halftime on.

In contrast, SBC was a much steadier 22 of 32 on foul shots. The Lions also doubled the Bombers’ output from beyond the arc, nailing 6 triples to just 3 by JRU, with none coming in the fourth.

SBC 76: Daniel – 14, Villahermosa – 13, Dela Rosa – 10, Adeogun – 9, Marcelo – 8, Pontejos – 7, Lim – 5, Lanete – 4, Koga – 3, J. Pascual – 2, Caram – 1

JRU 62: Mendoza – 15, Matute – 11, Apinan – 10, Almario – 7, Kabigting – 6, Gaco – 5, Carampil – 4, Lopez – 2, Villarias – 2