Lions rip Generals, gain lead

Games tomorrow (The Arena, San Juan)

4 p.m. – Letran vs Arellano U

6 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs Perpetual Help

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda found all the answers in every rally thrown in by upset-conscious Emilio Aguinaldo as it carved out a 71-64 victory to seize the solo lead for the first time in the 89th NCAA basketball tournament last night at The Arena in San Juan.

Trailing 31-33 at the break, the Lions went on attack mode anchored on the outside shooting of Baser Amer and Ryusei Koga and quelled every rally by the Generals to seal their 10th win against two losses for the No. 1 spot.

Amer and Koga combined for 25 points, the bulk coming in the second half and when San Beda turned things around in its favor.

Art dela Cruz and Nigerian Ola Adeogun had 16 and 12 points, respectively.

Idle Letran and Perpetual Help were at second and third spots with 9-2 and 9-3 (win-loss) records.

The Generals fell to their seventh defeat against five triumphs.

In the first game, San Sebastian leaned on rookie Jaymar Perez’ all-around performance as it turned back first-round tormentor Mapua, 72-63, to remain in solo fourth.

Perez, who was born in Hong Kong but was discovered playing basketball in Pangasinan, erupted for 19 points spiked with 11 rebounds and four assists as the Stags booked their seventh win against five defeats and remained inside the Magic Four.

Letran and San Beda lead the pack with identical 9-2 slates while Perpetual Help is at 9-3.

“I told my players before the game that big things start from doing small things and it helped my players in taking it step by step in getting us a win,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson.

The win also avenged the Stags’ 99-104 defeat at the hands of the Cardinals in their first round meeting last July 1.

Robinson said defense had something to do with it.

“In our first game, we allowed them to score 100-plus points. But we learned from that loss and we succeeded in limiting them offensively,” he said.

The game, however, was not without some anxious moments as San Sebastian’s Leo de Vera and Mapua’s Mark Brana were tossed out early in the fourth quarter for different offenses.