Lions roar to 16th win, seal top spot

Unblemished San Beda turned back Mapua, 83-55, to seal the top seeding and move closer to an automatic finals berth in the 95th NCAA basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

The Red Lions banked on a strong secondhalf surge as they booked their 16th win in as many games to step two games away from completing a double-round elimination sweep for an outright finals passage.

In the other game, Perpetual added to the piling woes of St. Benilde with a stunning 85-83 win.

Kim Aurin erupted for 29 points as the Altas improved to 4-10. The Blazers slid to 6-8.

James Canlas dropped a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds that he laced with three assists and three steals for the reigning three-time champion San Beda which now sets its sights on Lyceum and St. Benilde to complete its sweep bid.

Calvin Oftana unloaded five treys to finish with 15 markers, AC Soberano fired two triples en route to 12 points while Evan Nelle quarterbacked San Beda’s attack with 14 markers, three boards, eight assists and two steals.

“Every win, the target is really getting bigger. But I just told the boys the extra bonus of two days they would get if they take care of business today, and they did,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez. The scores: First Game Perpetual 85 – Aurin 29, Razon 15, Peralta 11, Adamos 10, Labarda 10, Charcos 5, Giussani 3, Sevilla 2, Cuevas 0, Lanoy 0, Martel 0, Tamayo 0.

CSB 83 – Young 20, Gutang 13, Carlos 13, Lepalam 10, Belgica 8, Haruna 5, Nayve 5, Sangco 5, Dixon 2, Naboa 2, Flores 0. Quarterscores: 15-17, 33-44, 62-60, 85-83 Second Game San Beda 83 – Canlas 15, Oftana 15, Nelle 14, Tankoua 12, Alfaro 5, Abuda 4, Carino 4, Cuntapay 4, Noah 3, Bahio 0, Visser 0, Etrata 0, Obenza 0.

Mapua 55 – Lugo 14, Serrano 10, Bunag 8, Victoria 6, Nocum 6, Gamboa 4, Garcia 3, Bonifacio 2, Dela Cruz 2, Nieles 0 Salenga 0, Aguirre 0, Jabel 0. Quarterscores: 15-12, 38-28, 59-37, 83-55 Third Game LPU 83 – Marcelino JC 23, Nzeusseu 14, Caduyac 10, Santos 9, Tansingco 8, Marcelino JV 7, David 4, Navarro 3, Pretta 3, Ibanez 2, Valdez 0, Yong 0, Remulla 0.

EAC 71 – Taywan 16, Mendoza 14, Gurtiza 9, Gonzales 7, Maguliano 6, De Guzman 6, Luciano 4, Cadua 3, Estacio 2, Dayrit 2, Martin 2, Corilla 0.

Quarterscores: 14-18, 42-31, 60-57, 83-71