Red Lions hold back rallying, CJ-less Pirates

MANILA, Philippines — San Beda went for a kill and a blowout but ended up fending off a late, furious comeback by a CJ Perez-less Lyceum of the Philippines University before hacking out a 73-60 victory yesterday to move on the verge of claiming its 22nd championship in the 94th NCAA basketball tournament at the MOA Arena in Pasay.

Comfortably ahead, 66-39, early in the fourth quarter, the Lions relaxed and started to celebrate as the Pirates dropped a 21-4 onslaught to slice the lead to just 10 points. But San Beda hang tough enough to secure the win and a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three duel.

LPU missed Perez in the opener after he served his suspension for failing to inform the league in writing of his PBA application.

 “I think without CJ (Perez), their effort went down. But even without CJ, we only beat them by 13 points and he’s averaging 18 points a game,” said San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez.

Perez’s absence was just too much for LPU as the Pangasinense is the team’s heart and soul, averaging a league-best 18.7 points, 8.4 rebounds, four assists and 3.3 steals.

The Lions poured everything on the Pirates from the outset and led by as many as 27 at 39-66.

Perez will be back in Game Two on Monday also at the MOA Arena. A decider, if necessary, is on Nov. 16 at the same venue.

San Beda expects a tough battle in Game Two.

“We just have to be ready and we know they’re going to come back strong,” said Fernandez.

The Pirates were in utter disarray without their leader, and got buried, 22-43, at the end of the first half.

Clint Doliguez and Jeramer Cabanag came off the bench and combined for 19 points in the first half.

Earlier, St. Benilde-La Salle Greenhills went to Joel Cagulangan in the fourth quarter as it turned back Mapua, 74-69, to move on the doorstep of a second straight juniors crown.

Cagulangan dropped nine of his team-best 16 points in the final period to help the Junior Blazers overcome the Robins’ repeated fightbacks.

It was the Junior Blazers’ first win over the Robins this year, and it came at the right time.

“We never beat them the whole of 2018 so this is the first of the year and we’re happy it came in the NCAA Finals,” said CSB-LSGH coach Marvin Bienvenida.

The scores:

San Beda 73 – Mocon 14, Bolick 12, Doliguez 11, Tankoua 10, Cabanag 8, Canlas 6, Oftana 4, Presbitero 3, Nelle 3, Cuntapay 2, Soberano 0, Abuda 0, Eugene 0, Tongco 0, Carino 0

LPU 60 – Nzeusseu 16, Marcelino JC 13, Marcelino JV 13, Ayaay 9, Caduyac 5, Valdez 2, Yong 2, Ibanez 0, Pretta 0, Santos 0, Tansingco 0, Serrano 0, Lumbao 0

Quarterscores: 19-9; 43-22; 59-39; 73-60