Reigning Champs San Beda Dumps Lyceum

image credits to PULA

Defending champion San Beda College restored order in the 87th NCAA seniors basketball tournament yesterday by dumping upstart Lyceum University 89-69 at the Arena in San Juan.

Banking on their vaunted pressure defense, the Red Lions opened a 42-25 halftime lead and never looked back to post their third straight win and gain a share of the lead with San Sebastian, which clobbered winless University of Perpetual (0-4) Help 87-60 in the other seniors match.

"They (Lyceum) were zoning us all the way but I believe that it was our pressure defense that eventually spelled the difference," said San Beda coach Frankie Lim of the ploy that forced the Pirates into 28 turnovers, 12 more than his squad.

While admitting they fell to a superior team, Lyceum coach Bonnie Tan was upset his charges boys failed to stick to their game plan. The Pirates, playing as a guest team, absorbed their first defeat in two outings.

"Maraming gustong mag-individual contest," said Tan, although he refused to single out any player. "Had we stuck to our strategy I believed we could have kept it close.

"But let’s face it, San Beda was, indeed, better than us. We got outboxed and outrebounded and gave them too many follow-ups," added Tan, noting the taller Red Lions clobbered them off the boards 43-20, including 16-6 on the offensive end.

Garvo Lanete had a field day from three-point range, going 4-of-8 to pace the Red Lions with 19 points, while Kyle Pascual had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Dexter Santos led the Pirates with 21 points, 18 of them from triples. Chris Cayabyab had 16 while Allan Santos also had a double-double for Lyceum with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Ominous signs the Pirates would be in for rough sailing were there after the Baby Pirates earlier suffered a humbling 28-163 setback at the hands of the reigning titlist Red Cubs.

One of San Beda Red Cubs’ assistant coaches, who declined to be identified but who saw the rout, noted "the loss by the Baby Pirates should be traumatic for them and shows that Lyceum should not have fielded a junior squad.

"The school should concentrate on its senior team," he said.