THE San Beda College Red Lions cut short the trip of the University of San Jose-Recoletos in its Philippine Collegiate Champions League Sweet 16 debut with a dominating 98-83 win yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
The NCAA champion started strong and never looked back to advance to the Big 8 along with UAAP champion Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles.
Ateneo defeated Lyceum of the Philippines-Manila Pirates, 77-56, in the opening game.
On Wednesday, another Cebu bet, the University of San Carlos Warriors, will debut in the league participated by the champions teams all over the country against another UAAP powerhouse De La Salle University Green Archers at 4 p.m, while eight-time Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation champion University of the Visayas Green Lancers will play on Thursday against the University of the East Red Warriors.
With Nigerian center Sam Ekwe working hard early along with the wide-bodied powerforward Jay-R Taganas, the Red Lions zoomed ahead using balanced offensive attacks.
The Red Lions went for the kill in the third period with Taganas scoring eight to give SBC a 68-39.
Manny Gabas, who was the lone bright spot in coach Edito Salacot’s arsenal, went to work as he kept lighting USJ-R’s scoreboard with an occasional help from the hurting Kurt Amores.
“I don’t know what happened. Maybe first-time jitters. But honestly, they’re very huge. Especially Ekwe. And despite their size, they could run,” Salacot told Sun.Star Cebu in an interview last night.
Salacot added that two of his big men Amores and Jan Ranulfo Malinao were injured.
Humbling experience
However, he was forced to use Amores and Malinao sparingly to help their cause.
“We learned our lessons, maybe we can show a better game if we can still play (in the Sweet 16) next year. This is my and our team’s first time to play here and it’s a humbling experience. We were defeated but we will try to come out strong the next time around,” said Salacot.
SBC had its biggest lead of the night at 89-59 with five minutes left in the game before Luther Luke Justinani, the team’s ace player, started to hit his shots and helped cut the lead down to 15 in the final tally.
Borgie Hermida played best for the Red Lions as he scored 10 points on top of four rebounds and 12 assists.
On the other hand, Gabas, who was ejected at the final 3:21 after collecting his second unsportsmanlike foul, topped the Cebuano scorers with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Jabe Kristewart Delfino had a double-double game of 11 points and 10 rebounds. (RCM)
