Daniel sparks Lions charge

MANILA, Philippines - American Sudan Daniel fired a league-best 18 points as San Beda edged rival Letran, 79-74, yesterday in a duel marred by an endgame melee in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

The 6-7 Daniel capped his game-long brilliance with four shot blocks and a pair of slams as the Lions sealed their fourth straight win and fifth overall in six games to remain in solo third.

He also pulled down seven rebounds, the last at the buzzer after which his foot got entangled with Letran rookie Kevin Alas, triggering a bench-clearing incident and a shoving match among players of both squads.

Fans from the stands then joined in the fray, pelting the court with plastic bottles, soda cans, coins and even mono-block chairs.

A separate brawl at the back of Letran’s bench also broke out, forcing the two teams to go straight to their locker rooms and skip the traditional post-game singing of their respective school hymns.

“It’s sad to see them fighting after the game,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, adding none of his players were hurt in the post-game fight.

Letran mentor Louie Alas was seen pacifying the crowd after his wife Liza and two-year-old son Kieffer were caught in the debris-throwing incident at the back of the Knights bench.

“I was there to help stop the commotion and help my wife and son who were there,” said Alas.

Bam Bam Gamalinda hit a key triple with less than a minute to go that gave San Beda a five-point cushion before Borgie Hermida wrapped things up for the Lions by draining two free throws.

But it was Daniel who stood out majority of the way.

“He did good out there but I thought he could have done better,” said Lim.

The victory thus extended San Beda’s domination of Letran to six straight games in a two-year span. The Lions’ last loss to the Knights came on July 5 two years ago – a 69-70 decision.

In the other game, College of Saint Benilde outlasted Perpetual Help, 64-63, to join Letran at No. 4 with a 3-3 slate.

The Blazers made 20 of the 30 free throws to make up for their woeful stint from beyond the arc.

The Altas absorbed their fifth setback against a win.

In juniors’ action, Letran leaned on superb efforts by Jarelan Tampus and Glenn Khobuntin as it tamed San Beda, 99-84, to seize the solo lead with a 6-0 slate.

Tampus had 34 points, 12 rebounds and five assists while Khobuntin contributed 23 points and 18 rebounds as the Squires remained the only unbeaten squad in the tournament.

The Cubs, who were led by Baser Amer’s 19 points, absorbed their first defeat after winning five straight.