Red Lions rip Benilde, regain Martin’s Cup

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda waylaid College of St. Benilde behind Ryusei Koga and Arthur de la Cruz as the Red Lions rolled to a 64-36 victory to regain the Fr. Martin Cup Collegiate Open crown at the Trinity University of Asia gymnasium over the weekend.

Koga tallied 18 points while De la Cruz added 14 markers as the Red Lions led from start to finish to dominate their winner-take-all match.

De la Cruz hit back-to-back baskets to close out the first half at 26-14 then Koga buried a triple at the end of the third to make it 36-18.

“They wanted to win it right away. But they finally settled down with their shots in the third, that’s the time they were getting their shots in. Then, we knew were going to get it in the fourth,” said Red Lions assistant coach JB Sison.

Olaide Adeogun, who made 12 points in San Beda’s 75-65 win over Arellano University Chiefs in the semifinals, scored only four marks but dominated the boards all game.

He was, however, ejected with four others in the last 32.4 seconds of the contest for his involvement in a scuffle with Blazers big man Robert Bartolo.