San Beda clamps down on JRU, gets share of top spot

MANILA, Philippines – San Beda lived up to its billing as the league’s top defensive team as it shackled Jose Rizal in a 68-54 victory to jump into a share of the lead with Letran in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City Monday.

Nigerian behemoth Ola Adeogun bullied his way to a game-high 22 points while he anchored his team’s defense by coming through with 10 rebounds and two blocks as the Lions joined the Knights at the helm on identical 9-2 (win-loss) records.

“Credit that to the players, who made a conscious effort to really play defense,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

The Mendiola-based dribblers came into the game with the league’s best defense after holding down foes to an average of 61.9 points followed by the Bombers, the league’s steals leader and the best team at forcing opposing teams to commit the most turnovers.

It was San Beda, however, that came out with the better defense.

The Lions led by as much as 18 points, 50-32, late in the third period but saw its lead cut to single digit late in the final canto when the Bombers started to play tough defense and force turnovers and Balagtas inspired a mini-run.

It came a little too late as Adeogun, Baser Amer and skipper Rome dela Rosa made some key shots in the stretch to preserve the win.

San Beda went on attack mode early as it roared to a 14-2 start and never relinquished it until the end.

Fernandez admitted Jose Rizal gave them nightmares.

“The score didn’t reflect how tough this win was because Jose Rizal made it difficult for us,” he said.

The Kalentong-based school, which was led by Marco Paulo Balagtas’ 16 points and Philip Paniamogan’s 14, absorbed its sixth defeat against five wins to stay in the middle of the pack.