Lions roar, chase away Knights

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda pulled away in the third quarter but needed to toughen up in the clutch to fend off a rallying Letran side and hack out a 74-68 victory to firm up its hold of second spot in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan yesterday.

The Red Lions broke away from a tight 35-32 game in the first half by outscoring the nights, 25-10, at the resumption of the contest then used another run in the fourth to post a 69-45 bulge heading to the last six minutes.

But as the Lions’ offense turned sour, the Knights unleashed a 23-2 run behind JP Calvo and Bong Quinto as the Knights threatened to within, 68-69, with 16.8 seconds remaining.

But Franz Abuda and Joe Presbitero bailed the Lions out of trouble with three free throws and Letran’s Bonbon Batiller misfired on his three-point attempt on the other end as the Lions claimed their fifth straight win and 11th overall against a loss, half-a-game behind unbeaten and lone tormentor the Lyceum of the Philippines U Pirates (11-0).

Letran at 7-4, later put the game under protest.

The Knights, who were led by Quinto’s 19 points, fell to 7-4 (win-loss).

In the other game, Michael Calisaan hit the front end of his charities but missed the second as San Sebastian pulled off a 66-65 reversal over College of St. Benilde to move to solo seventh.

Blazers’ Justin Gutang actually went coast-to-coast after Calisaan missed and appeared to have hit the game-winning drive at the buzzer. But after a long review, officials ruled that the ball still touched Gutang’s fingers as time expired, nullifying the basket and handing the Stags the win, their third against nine losses.

CSB, which dropped to joint fourth with Letran at 7-4, later put the game under protest.

The scores:

First Game

San Beda 74 – Tankoua 19, Bolick 13, Mocon 12, Abuda 7, Doliguez 7, Oftana 4, Presbitero 4, Cuntapay 3, Nelle 3, Soberano 2, Canlas 0, Cabanag 0, Carino 0, Tongco 0.

Letran 68 – Quinto 19, Calvo 16, Muyang 11, Fajarito 10, Batiller 6, Ambohot 3, Taladua 3, Balagasay 0, Yu 0, Agbong 0, Celis 0, Mandreza 0, Galvelo 0.

Quarterscores: 16-15; 35-32; 60-42; 74-68

Second Game

San Sebastian 66 -- Calisaan 18, Ilagan 11, Bulanadi 10, Capobres 10, Calma 6, Dela Cruz 5, Are 2, Valdez 2, Villapando 2, Desoyo 0, Isidro 0, Sumoda 0.

College of St. Benilde 65 -- Gutang 25, Leutcheu 9, Dixon 8, Carlos 7, Haruna 7, Young 5, Belgica 3, Nayve 1, Naboa 0, Pasturan 0.

Quarterscores: 17-12; 36-34; 53-42; 66-65.