Six-foot-6 rookie shines as Lions blast Knights

Games Tuesday (The Arena, San Juan) 12 noon – San Sebastian vs LPU (Srs) 2 p.m. – Jose Rizal vs EAC (Srs) 4 p.m. – St. Benilde vs Letran (Srs)

Benedict Adamos finally stepped up in the absence of Donald Tankoua, firing 18 points as San Beda clobbered Letran, 83-71, in a duel of last year’s title protagonists to regain the solo lead in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

The 20-year-old Adamos, taking over from Tankoua, who is out for the rest of the season with a right ACL tear, ran rings around his defenders and pounded the boards with nine rebounds while capping his game-long brilliance with six shot blocks, all league highs for the 6-6 rookie transferee from Technological Institute of the Philippines.

Fil-Am Davon Potts put in a gamehigh 23-point effort, including nine in the last quarter, while Jayvee Mocon dished out a double- double of 17 points and 11 boards with five assists to power the Lions to the 12-point romp in the game marred by a shoving match late in the contest.

“I have to give credit to everybody, it was a collective effort. We didn’t want to lose twice,” said San Beda coach Jamike Jarin, referring to their shock 71-72 defeat to a surging San Sebastian side last Tuesday.

With the outcome already decided, Letran’s Bong Quinto was called for an offensive foul that triggered a shoving match involving teammate Jerrick Balanza and San Beda’s Jomari Presbitero with seven seconds to go. Jarin also joined in the fray and was subsequently assessed a technical foul.

When the game ended, a heated exchange of words ensued between Letran’s McJour Luib and Antonio Bonsubre of San Beda. Jarin apologized after the incident. “We apologized if we did something ungentlemanly and we will control our emotions and be gentlemen the rest of the competition,” said Jarin. The scores: First Game (Srs) San Sebastian 69 – Costelo 20, Calisaan 15, Ilagan 12, Bulanadi 8, Capobres 4, Gayosa 3, Mercado 3, Fabian 2, Calma 2, Baetiong 0, David 0, Johnson 0, Quipse 0, Sera Josef 0, Valdez 0.

Mapua 67 – Oraeme 16, Menina 12, Estrella 9, Victoria 9, Isit 6, Raflores 6, Bunag 4, Eriobu 4, Serrano 1, Biteng 0, Orquina 0. Quarterscores: 8-25, 27-38, 50-46, 69-67 Second Game (Srs) JRU 68 – Teodoro 21, Grospe 15, Poutouochi 14, Abdul Wahab 11, Mendoza 4, Dela Virgen 3, Dela Paz 0, Pontejos 0, Lasquety 0, Cruz 0.

LPU 58 – Alban 27, Nzeusseu 10, Ayaay 5, Alanes 4, Baltazar 4, Marata 4, Gabayni 4, Caduyac 0, Soliman 0, Serafica 0, Magbuhos 0, Malabanan 0. Quarterscores: 17-17, 32-30, 46-41, 68-58 Third Game (Srs) San Beda 83 – Potts 23, Adamos 18, Mocon 17, Presbitero 6, Sara 4, Soberano 4, Noah 4, Bonsubre 3, Bolick 2, Tongco 2, Bahio 0, Carlos 0.

Letran 71 – Sollano 18, Quinto 17, Nambatac 13, Balanza 9, Calvo 9, Luib 3, Ambohot 2, Apreku 0, Balagasay 0, Bernabe 0, Pambid 0, Dela Pena 0, Sario 0.

Quarterscores: 23-22, 43-32, 56-43, 83-71