Lions, Tams score wins in Fr. Martin cagefest

MANILA, Philippines – The San Beda-A Red Lions and the Far Eastern University Tamaraws repulsed their foes to move in contention for quarterfinal seats last Saturday in the 14th Fr. Martin Division 2 Cup basketball tournament at the St. Placid gym of the San Beda College-Manila campus in Mendiola, Manila.

Cameroonian Eugene Toba unloaded 32 points for the Red Lions as they fended off the Letran-A Knights, 83-66, and earned their fifth straight win.

Transferees Rendell Senining, Hubert Cani, Arvin Tolentino and JR Parker scored in double-digits to power the Tams to an 86-74 smothering of the University of Perpetual Help-Molino Altas.

The Red Lions stayed on top of Group B in the senior division, while the Tams are behind in second with their 4-1 win-loss slate.

Jeremer Cabanag and Clint Doliguez contributed 18 and 15 points for the Red Lions, who overcame a 35-36 halftime deficit.

Toba and Cabanag combined for 20 points in the third as the Red Lions went on to grab a 12-point edge, 64-52, at the end of the period.

Senining, who came from National University, and Cani, who used to play for Ateneo with Tolentino, led an 8-0 uprising with their triple and drives, and handed FEU a 12-point edge in the start of the fourth, 64-52.

In other games, Rich Guinitaran sank 27 points for Centro Escolar University-A in their 96-57 win over Perpetual Help-Molino.

The FEU Baby Tamaraws won over San Beda-Rizal Red Cubs, 99-73, in the junior division, while Xavier School edged San Beda-Mendiola, 73-69.

Commissioner Robert de la Rosa said the top four teams in Group A and Group B of the senior division will advance to the quarterfinals.