Despite winless Dubai campaign, Red Lions come home tougher

Defending NCAA champions San Beda College Red Lions bowed out of the 29th Dubai International Basketball Tournament without a win, receiving a romping at the hands of Lebanese club team Sagesse, 69-90, early Wednesday morning (Manila time) at the Al Ahli Sports Club in Dubai.

Though they lost all of their games, the record does not reflect how hard the Red Lions battled. San Beda lost their outing to the UAE National Team last Friday. 79-89, before being edged out by Tunisian club team Sousse, 78-79, the next day. After a day off, San Beda could not get the ball rolling against Moroccan club Sale.

Robert Bolick had 23 points, five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in the loss. The 23 for 2023 Gilas cadet ended his campaign averaging 24.5 points per game.

Fellow 23 for 2023 cadet Javee Mocon added 14 points and seven rebounds, while Radge Tongco played his best game with nine markers.

San Beda had a strong start in the contest, leading 14-7 midway through the first frame. Sale — a team that has six Americans, three of whom are naturalized — fired right back with a 17-6 run to close out the quarter.

It was all Sale from there, leading by as much as 31 points, 73-42, early in the final frame. San Beda, on the other hand, could not get a run going — only cutting the lead to as low as 24 points, 73-49.

Joe Presbitero had eight markers, while NCAA Season 93 Seniors Basketball Finals Most Valuable Player Donald Tankoua chipped in seven points, four rebounds, three assists, and two blocks.

Jackson Pernell led four Sagesse players in double digits with 16 points. John Bohanon and Aziz Massih had 12 and 11 points respectively with the former grabbing seven boards as well.

The Red Lions’ Dubai campaign would not have been possible without UAE-based water producer Masafi.

The Scores:

San Beda 69 – Bolick 23, Mocon 14, Tongco 9, Presbitero 8, Tankoua 7, Soberano 6, Adamos 2, Abuda 0, Carino 0, Oftana 0, Noah 0, Toba 0, Adamos 0.

Sagesse 90 – Pernell 16, Bohanon 12, Massih 11, Khoury 10, Mejok 9, Dagher 8, Youngblood 7, Fakhreddine 7, Bolds 5, Nehme 3, Souaid 2.

Quarterscores: 20-23, 32-52, 42-68, 69-90.