Bombers nip Altas; Stags edge Pirates

A FLURRY of triples from Ronald Pascual in the final period propelled San Sebastian past the shorthanded Lyceum Pirates, 87-79, last night as the Stags gained a tie for the lead in the 88th NCAA basketball tournament at Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

The 6-foot-2 Pascual notched a season-high 32 points, including three straight triples midway in the fourth quarter that sent the Stags on their way to a fourth straight victory against a lone defeat.

Jose Rizal U later forged a three-team tie at the top with the Stags and the idle San Beda Lions after the Bombers stopped the Perpetual Help Altas, 64-59.

Alex Almario and Nate Matute wound up with 12 points each as the Bombers showed composure down the stretch in bouncing back from a 78-101 beating to the Stags in inflicting a second loss in six outings on the Altas.

“We were struggling with our offense, but we made up for it with our defense,” said Bombers coach Vergel Meneses. “We came out flat in the last game, but we were able to address that this time.”

Pascual nailed four of six triples in the opening quarter then went cold, hitting just one of nine shots from beyond the arc, until his fourth-quarter explosion that turned a 69-72 deficit into a 78-73 SSC advantage heading into the last 4:10.

“I’d rather see him miss than not shoot at all,” said San Sebastian coach Topex Robinson of Pascual, who made a season-high eight triples in 21 attempts. “I was telling him to keep on shooting. He’s been working on his shots. If he doesn’t shoot, I can’t utilize him.”

The Senior Scores:
First Game
SAN SEBASTIAN 87—Pascual 32, Sangalang 20, Abueva 16, Dela Cruz 7, Antipuesto 3, Binuya 3, Juico 2, Maiquez 2, Miranda 1, Balucanag 1, Rebollos 0, Vitug 0.

LYCEUM 79—Cayabyab 20, Ko 20, Zamora 11, Francisco 8, Mallari 6, Ambohot 5, Martinez 5, Azores 2, Laude 2, Garcia 0, Edding 0, Pascual 0.

Quarters: 26-19, 42-37, 57-62, 87-79

Second Game
JRU 64—Almario 12, Matute 12, Villarias 10, Mabulac 8, Lopez 8, Carampil 4, Dela Paz 4, Monserat 4, Camasura 2, Diapera 0.

PERPETUAL 59—Vidal 20, Thompson 12, Jolangcob 7, Elopre 5, Arboleda 5, Paulino 4, Babayemi 3, Alano 2, Omorogbe 1, Allen 0, Bitoy 0.

Quarters: 19-17, 29-30, 51-48, 64-59


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Lions, Altas tie for No. 1

Nigerian Ola Adeogun’s availability couldn’t have come at a better time for San Beda.

Suspended for the first four games of the season, Adeogun made an auspicious debut for the Red Lions, powering the defending champions to an 81-65 rout of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Arena in San Juan.

With the victory, the Lions improved to 4-1 to grab a share of the lead with Perpetual Help Altas, who later crushed St. Benilde, 84-64.

Earl Thompson flirted with a triple-double finishing with 16 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in 27 minutes on the floor.

The Altas broke away in the third period, where they outscored the Blazers, 28-7, to turn a three-point deficit into a commanding 57-39 lead heading into the last quarter.

“Our good start helped the team gain confidence,” said Perpetual Help coach Aric del Rosario, whose squad scored 25 points off 26 St. Benilde turnovers.

Adeogun came through with nine points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked four shots, aside from helping neutralize the Generals’ Cameroonian center Happy Noubi, who failed to make an impact in the second half.

“I’m just happy to be playing,” said Adeogun, who was suspended for his role in the brawl on the sidelines of an NCAA women’s volleyball game last December.

Rome dela Rosa and Baser Amer led the charge with 15 points each as the Lions found their groove in the middle quarters and threw a tight defensive blanket to finish off the Generals, who dropped to the cellar at 1-4.

The Senior scores:
First Game
SAN BEDA 81—Dela Rosa 15, Amer 15, Caram 13, J. Pascual 11, Adeogun 9, Lim 8, K. Pascual 4, Dela Cruz 4, Mendoza 2, Koga 0.

EAC 65—Jamon 18, Happi 14, Monteclaro 10, Tayongtong 5, Yaya 5, Munsayac 5, Sanchez 4, Morada 2, Chiong 2, King 0.

Quarters: 15-16, 40-33, 65-49, 81-65

Second Game
PERPETUAL HELP 84—Thompson 16, Vidal 16, Omorogbe 14, Paulino 11, Elopre 10, Babayemi 7, Arboleda 6, Asuncion 2, Allen 2, Cenita 0, Jolangcob 0, Alano 0.

ST. BENILDE 64—Grey 13, Tolentino 10, Romero 10, Taha 7, Bartolo 6, Lastimosa 5, Sinco 4, Altamirano 3, Ongteco 2, Garcia 2, Carlos 2, Maconocido 0, Deles 0.

Quarters: 18-17, 29-32, 57-39, 84-64

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Lyceum clamps down on Mapua for victory; Shane Ko with 23 points

MANILA, Philippines — Upstart Lyceum turned to its defense and steady free-throw shooting to stun Mapua, 78-74, Thursday in the 88th NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Arena in San Juan.

The Pirates knew just what to do down the line – stopping the Cardinals’ top scorer Josan Nimes from making a go-ahead basket and deflecting a desperation three from Kenneth Ighalo to escape with their second victory.

Chris Cayabyab iced the game by making three of four free throws in the finals 17 seconds, but it was Shane Ko who carried Lyceum offensively with 23 points along with six rebounds and three dimes.

“Our defense carried us, we played hard so we pulled through,” said head coach Bonnie Tan. “We identified their strength and I just reminded the boys what to do.”

Ko went two-of-three from the stripe after he was fouled from downtown, then set up Floricel Guevarra for two which gave the Pirates the lead for good.

It was a close contest, with no team being able to pull away and pad onto a double digit lead — with 13 deadlocks and 13 lead changes.

But the Pirates, winning back-to-back after a 0-3 start, made the shots that the Cardinals, who even lead 66-60 early in the fourth, did not.

Mapua’s second setback in the season spoiled Mike Parala’s career game, finishing with a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds.

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