Lions, two others target No. 2

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda, Mapua and Emilio Aguinaldo College shoot for their second straight wins as they take on Lyceum of the Phl U, St. Benilde and Letran, respectively, today in the third playdate of the 92nd NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.

Led by Javee Mocon and Fil-Am Davon Potts, the Lions held off the rallying Letran Knights, 89-85, in Saturday’s opener of the country’s oldest collegiate league at the MOA Arena. But SBC coach Jamike Jarin braces for another tougher outing against the Pirates at  2 p.m.

Mocon made quite an impression as he finally started for SBC, finishing with 18 points and six rebounds while Potts, a transferee from US NCAA Division II California State, fired 16 points, including nine in a decisive run in the fourth quarter.

Jarin though stressed the need for his wards to play consistently the whole 40 minutes after the Lions blew double-digit leads the first time out, enabling the defending champion Knights to threaten at endgame.