Red Cubs open title defense, rout Staglets

Perennial champion San Beda unleashed a telling third quarter run as it smothered San Sebastian, 118-74, yesterday to open its title-retention bid in the 80th NCAA high school basketball competition at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

James Vincent Martinez and last year’s MVP Jay-R Taganas led four other teammates with double-digit scores with 23 and 21 points, respectively, as the Red Cubs stamped their class and served notice of their bid against top challengers Mapua and Letran.

Also finishing in double figures were Rogemar Menor, Eduardo Canlas, John Carlos Hermida and Nicholson Principe with 12, 11, 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Also churning out a solid game was Jose Rizal, which demolished host University of Perpetual Help-Dalta System, 80-65, with Mike Joseph Larida doing most of the damage with 28 points.

But more than the scoring onslaught, it was defense that got the Red Cubs’ game going. — J.Villar