Red Lions reduce Warriors to shreds

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda made mincemeat of a listless University of the East side, hacking out a 91-57 victory to inch closer to the quarterfinals of the 2012 Filoil Flying V Pre-Season Hanes Cup at the Filoil Flying V Arena yesterday.

Julius Armon, an American citizen with Filipino blood who will make his debut in the coming NCAA wars, continued to impress, leading all scorers with 17 points while Rome dela Cruz scattered 12 points as the Lions nailed their fifth win in a row in Group A.

“We’re slowly getting to the goal we want and today (yesterday) was an example how we want us to be,” said San Beda coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

Ateneo, the UAAP champion, played its best scoring game of the tournament as it turned back a fighting State U, 69-60, to stay right behind San Beda with a 4-1 (win-loss) slate.

Seven-footer Greg Slaughter, a former member of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas squad as well as the Sinag Pilipinas side that captured the basketball gold in last year’s Indonesia Southeast Asian Games, collected 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Slaughter got help from Tonito Gonzaga, Nico Salva and Justin Chua, who combined for 35 points.

“We had our highest scoring game after five games so I think we’re slowly but surely improving,” said Sandy Arespacochaga, who is coaching Ateneo in the absence of Norman Black, currently concentrating on his job with Talk n Text in the pro league.

Kiefer Ravena, the reigning Filoil tourney MVP, struggled with a 2-of-9 shooting but made up for it with four boards and three assists.

The Maroons, who were led by transferee Raul Sayud with 16 points, suffered a second straight loss.

“They’re a better team now. They have better big men this year,” said Arespacochaga of the Maroons.