Red Lions Overwhelm Generals

This time around, San Beda College made sure the game will not be decided at the last minute.

The Red Lions returned to their usual dominating selves, as they showed no mercy against Emilio Aguinaldo College, 103-62, to gain a piece of the lead in the 87th National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball tournament at the Flying V Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Garvo Lanete sizzled with a career-high 32 points, 13 in the second period, to power San Beda to its fifth straight victory in as many games in a tie with San Sebastian at the top on similar 5-0 cards.

After barely surviving College of St. Benilde in their previous encounter, 79-78, the Red Lions came out of the gates and raced to a 17-point lead, 52-35, at the break. They never looked back from there in cruising to the win.

Through Lanete and its unforgiving full-court trap and precise transition game, San Beda relentlessly attacked the Generals at every possession.

“Our last game was a wakeup call for us that we cannot stay overconfident. We played better and with more aggression today. We also adjusted our defensive lapses from last game,’’ said San Beda coach Frankie Lim.

“Una, bumawi talaga kami from our last game na medyo masama tapos last year ko na din kasi kaya ganoon,’’ said Lanete, who had six treys.

Dating back to their perfect 18-0 dream season last year, the Red Lions’ streak now stands at 23 wins. They will face Letran in their next game.

Lanete had plenty of help, with Rome Dela Rosa coming off the bench with 17 points, while prized rookie Baser Amer and Dave Marcelo each added 11 markers. Melo Lim added ten points.

San Beda established its biggest lead, a 42-point bubble on Kyle Pascual’s basket with 9.8 ticks left.

SAN BEDA 103—Lanete 32, Dela Rosa 17, Amer 11, Marcelo 11, Lim 10,Caram 8, Semerad A. 4, Pascual K. 4, Koga 2, Pontejos 2, Semerad D. 2, Villahermosa 0, Sorela 0, Pascual J. 0.

EAC 62—Jamon 13, Yaya 11,Cubo 11, Torralba 10, King 7, Vargas 7, Sanchez 2, Juliano 1, Paguia 0, Morada 0, Diolanto 0, Chiong 0.

Quarters: 18-15, 52-35, 77-49, 103-62