Six roaring Red Lions overwhelm Chiefs

MANILA, Philippines - Extremely short in personnel but not in fighting spirit, San Beda sent shock waves to the whole league as six Red Lions got the team to a triumphant start in the 2012 NCAA men’s basketball competition with an 81-71 win over the Arellano Chiefs at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Sophomore Christian Dave Moralde and rookies John Mark Ludovice, Arthur dela Cruz, Ritchie Jon Villaruz, Francis Johnson Abarcar and Antonio Bonsubre got the job done for the Red Lions, underscoring the immense talent of the squad that will pursue another “Three-Peat” feat for the Mendiola-based school.

A huge crowd from the San Beda community threw tremendous support to their team reduced to six players for this game as a result of an ugly incident they got into during the off-season.

The “Super Six” fought with great resolve, overcoming an early 12-point deficit for the great feat marking their first game under new coach Ronnie Magsanoc.

Ludovice, Dela Cruz, Villaruz, Abarcar and Moralde scored at least 12 points each, spoiling the debut of Koy Banal as the Arellano bench chieftain.

Suspended for this game were Baser Amer, Anjo Caram, Rome Dela Rosa, Ryusei Koga, Melo Lim, Jaypee Mendoza, Jake Pascual, Kyle Pascual, Michole Sorela and Nigerian center Ola Adeogun.

Adeogun, a key figure in the off-season incident between the San Beda Lions and the San Sebastian women’s volleyball team, is suspended for three more games.

“It’s all heart. It was exhausting but extremely rewarding in the end,” said Magsanoc, a former San Beda Red Cub before joining the UP Maroons.

“Laban lang sabi nung anim (The six said they will fight all the way). They lived up to their promise,” Magsanoc also said. “The boys worked for each possession.”

Ludovice, graduating from the San Beda juniors team, played without relief and wound up with 18 points, the same output put in by Dela Cruz in his return to San Beda from Ateneo.

From six, the Red Lions were further reduced to five as Bonsubre fouled out halfway through the third period.

Nonetheless, Ludovice and company kept on fighting, coming through with a decisive 16-2 run in the third quarter to seize control at 58-46.

Late Saturday, John Lopez scored the go-ahead free throw with 40 seconds left and Jose Rizal U hang on to nip Mapua, 65-64.

“We’re just really lucky,” said JRU coach Vergel Meneses, heaving a sigh of relief as the Cardinals missed three attempts in the dying seconds.

The scores:

San Beda 81 – Ludovice 18, Dela Cruz 18, Villaruz 17, Abarcar 16, Moralde 12, Bonsubre 0.

Arellano 71 – Acidre 16, Pinto 16, Hernandez 15, Malanday 14, Bangga 4, Salcedo 4, Zulueta 2, Valera 0, Lunas 0, Espiras 0, Cadavis 0.

Quarterscores: 21-28; 42-44, 63-54; 81-71