Lions hold off Generals sans Tankoua GeneralsGeneralsTankoua’s exit to stay at helm

MANILA, Philippines - San Beda bucked Donald Tankoua’s early exit due to injury, charging back in the fourth quarter behind AC Soberano and Benedict Adamos as the Lions pounded out a 90-82 victory over the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals to stay on top of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan yesterday.

Tankoua, San Beda’s tower of power, injured his knee after a bad fall late in the opening quarter, forcing coach Jamike Jarin to sit out the Cameroonian the rest of the way while digging deep into his bench to foil the Generals and notch their 10th win against a loss.

“Despite what happened to Donald (Tankoua), we found a way to win, that’s the most important thing,” said Jarin, whose wards blew an 11-point halftime lead and trailed 66-67 at the onset of the fourth.

In the third game, Arellano U trounced winless St. Benilde, 78-69, to seize solo second at 9-2.

The Blazers fell to 0-11, tying the school’s worst start 12 years ago.

But Soberano hit a pair of triples in the final minute to help put the Lions away for good while Adamos, a rookie transferee from Technological Institute of the Philippines, stepped up in the absence of Tankoua and came through with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Lions also cashed in on the Generals’ miscues down the stretch to snatch the victory. In all, San Beda forced EAC to 27 turnovers, converting 28 points off them.

Sydney Onwubere had 19 points, 18 rebounds, six blocks, five assists and a steal but he had nine turnovers as the Generals absorbed their eighth defeat against three wins.

Earlier, San Sebastian shocked Perpetual Help, 71-55, to snap a nine-game losing skein.

Alvin Capobres fired 13 points while the rest shackled the Altas’ gunners to nail what was only their second win in 11 games.

The Altas came into the match as the league’s best defensive team after holding their rivals to 61 points a game, but struggled in the face of the Stags’ stifling defense, falling to their third loss against eight wins.

The scores:

First Game (Srs)

San Sebastian 71 – Capobres 13, Bulanadi 11, Ilagan 11, Fabian 10, Calisaan 9, Valdez 6, Baetiong 5, Sera Josef 4, David 2, Mercado 0, Calma 0, Johnson 0.

Perpetual 55 – Akhuetie 21, Hao 9, Pido 6, Coronel 6, Dagangon 4, Ylagan 4, Eze 4, Sadiwa 1, Dizon 0, Singontiko 0.

Quarterscores: 26-20, 41-28, 51-37, 71-55

Second Game (Srs)

San Beda 90 – Potts 20, Tongco 12, Adamos 11, Mocon 10, Bolick 8, Soberano 8, Noah 8, Tankoua 5, Presbitero 3, Oftana 2, Alas 2, Sara 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0.

EAC 82 – Onwubere 19, Laminou 18, Munsayac 15, King 14, Morada 13, Diego 2, Pascua 1, Neri 0, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Mendoza 0.

Quarterscores: 27-18, 48-37, 66-67, 90-82

Third Game (Srs)

Arellano U 78 – Jalalon 17, Holts 12, Salado 11, Gumaru 7, Nichols 7, Meca 6, Enriquez 5, Flores 4, Cadavis 4, Aguilar 3, Canete 2, Villoria 0, Rivera 0, Zamora 0

St. Benilde 69 – Young 24, Domingo 15, Fajarito 11, Dixon 7, Haruna 6, Castor  4, Belgica 2, Pasamante 0, San Juan 0, Pajarillaga 0

Quarterscores: 24-14; 45-28; 61-44; 78-69