San Beda Clinch Quarterfinals, Demolish Cardinals

Ronnie Magsanoc has no plans of celebrating his first month since he was appointed San Beda coach. But he sure knows how to make it memorable.

Keeping their cool in a grueling, physical battle, the Red Lions, the reigning NCAA champions, overpowered the undermanned Mapua Cardinals, 77-61, to clinch the first ticket to the quarterfinals of the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Hanes Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan today.

Jake Pascual registered a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Julius Armon scattered 12 points to help the Red Lions clinch the first seat to the quarters with a pristine 6-0 (win-loss) slate.

It was a fitting gift to Magsanoc, who took over the coaching reins of the Red Lions after Frankie Lim resigned exactly a month ago.

"I didn't even know that I've been coaching here for a month now," said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc, member of the PBA's 25 Greatest Players and a member of the team that gave the Maroons their first and only UAAP title thus far in 1986.

"I'm just happy that I've already memorized the names of my players compared before when I needed a list," he added.

While San Beda remained atop the heap in Group A, National U continued to hoist the lead in the other group after nailing its fourth-straight victory at the expense of a listless Emilio Aguinaldo side, 93-52.

Dennis Villamor paced the Bulldogs with 16 points while Cameroonian Emmanuel Mbe had 12 points and 14 rebounds while playing minimal minutes as NU coach Eric Altamirano spread playing time to as many as 13 players.

"It’s not a gauge but I like our chances," said Altamirano.

The San Beda-Mapua game turned physical as advertised as the two teams played rough defense from the onset.

It got worse when defense-minded Jumel Chien was tossed out for hitting Armon's privates late in the third quarter, sending the US-born forward on the floor and writhing in pain.

Mapua big man Mike Parala followed Chien to the locker room after getting assessed with a disqualification foul on San Beda's Kyle Pascual midway in the fourth period.

Parala and Chien thus face possible suspension for their misconduct.

source: Philstar