THE SAN BEDA Red Lions got back on the winning track as they dumped the Lyceum Pirates, 97-74, in the 91st NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Arena in San Juan.
After suffering a humbling 80-93 loss to the red-hot Letran Knights in their last game, the Red Lions put on display the kind of game that have made them five-time defending champions with five players scoring in double figures led by Art dela Cruz who had yet another stellar outing with 22 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block.
Pierre Tankoua had 13 while fellow foreigner Ola Adeogun pitched in 10.
With star guard Baser Amer out for the next three months because of an injured shoulder, Ryusei Koga and Dan Sara did their best to man the point and did so admirably with the former getting 12 points, four boards and three dimes while the latter added 11 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a whopping six steals.
San Beda improved to 3-1, (win-loss) while Lyceum fell to 1-3.
THE SCORES:
SAN BEDA 97 – Dela Cruz 22, Tankoua 13, Koga 12, Sara 11, Adeogun 10, Tongco 9, Cabanag 8, Mocon 6, Solera 4, Bonsubre 2, Reyes 0, Presbitero 0, Sedillo 0.
LYCEUM 74 – Mbidda 13, Baltazar 12, Gabayni 11, Lugo 8, Bulawan 8, Ayaay 6, Taladua 4, Malabanan 3, Alanes 3, Soliman 2, Marata 2, Lacastesantos 2, Sunga 0.
Quarters: 27-14, 42-33, 70-57, 97-74.