Daniel's triple double gives Lions solo lead

MANILA, Philippines - Sudan Daniel put up the first triple-double performance in this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament as San Beda roared to its fifth straight victory with a 101-77 romp over Perpetual Help to wrest the solo lead at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The 6-7 Daniel imposed his strength from start to finish and ended up with 16 points, 10 rebounds and a league record of 10 shot blocks that would probably take years to at least match.

The romp stretched the Lions’ win run to five halfway through the first round of elims.

San Sebastian, the defending champion, is the only unbeaten team with four victories with the Stags seeking to re-join the Red Lions at the helm with a win against the tough Jose Rizal Bombers tomorrow.

“He played a monster game,” said San Beda coach Frankie Lim, referring to the high-leaping Daniel.

Rookie Jaypee Mendoza, a former RP youth standout, posted a season-high 17 points while Garvo Lanete and Jake Pascual chipped in 16 and 11 points, respectively, in a solid backup to Daniel.

The Altas reeled to their sixth straight setback.

Emilio Aguinaldo, meanwhile, relied on Emilian Vargas’ third quarter heroics as it grounded St. Benilde, 76-71, to nail its first win after three straight losses.

Vargas, a former EAC player who transferred to UST two years ago before finally deciding to return to the Generals, scored nine of his game-high 17 points in a third quarter run that keyed the Generals’ breakthrough win in the season.

In juniors’ action, defending champion San Beda bounced back from a forfeiture of one of its four wins for technicality on the wrong use of a uniform as it routed Perpetual Help, 91-77, to regain the solo lead with a 4-1 (win-loss) record.

The Junior Blazers, for their part, blasted the Brigadiers, 97-44, for a 2-1 slate.