Hot Lions notch 7th straight win

San Beda continued to dish out big games behind a balanced offensive attack as it thumped San Sebastian, 77-60, yesterday to regain the solo lead in the 82nd NCAA basketball tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Yousif Aljamal fired 17 points while John Escobal, John Hermida and Alex Angeles added 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively, to underscore San Beda’s awesome combination that had the Red Lions streaking to their seventh straight victory and eighth overall against one loss.

The victory also dropped erstwhile co-leader Letran, the defending champion, to second place with a 7-1 (win-loss) slate.

While Aljamal and company took charge in offense, Nigerian Samuel Ekwe played true to form on the defensive end, terrorizing the Stags with his intimidating presence.

Although he failed to duplicate his triple-double performance of 10 points, 13 rebounds and 11 shot blocks last week, Ekwe still finished with 12 rebounds and seven points, including an alley-oop slam off an Alex Angeles assist. He also had three shot blocks.

"He’s always a big help to the team," said San Beda coach Koy Banal of his 21-year-old slotman.

Rookie Gilbert Bulawan came through with a career-high 21 points and 12 rebounds, two shot blocks and the same number of steals for San Sebastian. But he failed to draw the needed support from the rest as the Stags fell to their sixth defeat against three wins.

San Beda was in complete control that it hardly felt the absence of its top swingman Rogemar Menor, who served out a one-game suspension for elbowing Mark Pradas of Jose Rizal Monday.

Menor was the third player suspended by the Management Committee chaired by Bernie Atienza of St. Benilde this season after Jose Rizal’s Allan Se and teammate John Escobal.

Escobal’s suspension, however, was reversed after the Mendiola-based school appealed it.

In the other game, Jose Rizal shocked Mapua, 73-69, to notch its second win against seven losses. The Cardinals dropped to 5-4.