The defending champion San Beda University Red Lions played tough from the start and quickly threw the College of St. Benilde Blazers off their pace to come away with an 88-57 smashing yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center in San Juan.
The Red Lions’ 31-point victory turned out to be the third biggest blowout game of the season as San Beda University went on to notch their eighth straight victory in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
And it came two weeks after the Red Lions pulled off the season’s biggest win -a 102-56 crushing of the University of Perpetual Help Altas.
Second stringer Calvin Oftana scored seven points in the first period as the Lions grabbed a 20-9 advantage going into the next quarter.
Oftana went on to finish with 27 points and nine rebounds for the Red Lions, who went on to match the San Sebastian Stags’ winning margin when they clobbered the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 82-51, last July 9.
“Medyo kinakabahan ako kasi good start ang CSB. But, I’m happy the players came out strong and played well,” said Red Lions’ coach Boyet Fernandez.
The Red Lions, who drew 14 points highlighted by four triples from AC Soberano, moved two notches ahead of the Blazers, who fell behind with their 5-2 win-loss slate.
Soberano’s triple and drive in the last 6:47 of the second period helped propel the Red Lions to a 17-point spread, 32-15.
Treys from Soberano and Clint Doliguez midway in the third provided the Mendiola dribblers fuel to push them to their biggest edge, 62-31.
TY Tang ejection
So pissed was Blazers’ coach TY Tang of the Red Lions’ lead that he lost his cool was ejected from the court on two technicals in the last six seconds of the third period.
This was after Tang entered the court to question a non-call and for making faces at the referees with his hand signals.
“I feel that it was our mental toughness against top teams. All of a sudden, there are things in our game plan that we could not follow,” said a frustrated Tang.
Justin Gutang and James Pasturan tallied 10 points each for the Blazers, who fell to third behind the Lyceum Pirates (6-2).
Later, the San Sebastian Stags celebrated the return of coach Egay Macaraya with a 107-90 clobbering of the University of Perpetual Help Altas.
Allyn Bulanadi chipped in a game-high 31 points that sent the Stags to their fourth triumph in seven matches.
Macaraya was suspended for an unsportsmanlike act during the Stags’ game with the Lyceum Pirates.
Two junior games were called off because of bad weather.
