Evan Nelle posts four-year high in assists, orchestrates San Beda’s rout of JRU

Coming off a defensive gem against Arellano on opening day, the San Beda University Red Lions followed it up with a dominant 74-52 wire-to-wire win over the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying Centre.

San Beda put up a masterful opening quarter display, starting the game with a 15-0 surge and only allowed JRU to score their first basket with 3:46 left in the opening frame.

Still, decorated San Beda head coach Boyet Fernandez lamented how the Red Lions went lackadaisical after gaining a huge lead in the second half.

“Well, we are happy to win this one but I saw a different thing in our execution. We have so many missed shots and we messed up our defense,” rued Fernandez.

“We gave up 52 points against JRU. But again, coach Louie [Gonzalez] did a good job in adjusting and preparing for the game,” he furthered as San Beda only allowed the Chiefs to score 46 points last Sunday.

Evan Nelle, a sophomore guard out of San Beda-Taytay, steered the Red Lions in this one, tallying a four year-high 14 assists in 30 minutes of game time. The previous-high was Jio Jalalon’s 16-assist game for Arellano against San Sebastian back in July 24, 2015.

“We thought na yung eleven assists niya nung first-half can be record-breaking na but three na lang nung second half. We were missing shots,” said Fernandez.

“Bad game for me e. Honestly, hindi ako maka-shoot. Nung tumira ako, puro miss. Calvin [Oftana], James [Canlas], and JB [Bahio]were making their shots. Create na lang kasi nakaka-shoot naman sila,” added Nelle.

Canlas and Oftana had 17 markers each with the former grabbing eight boards and the latter gobbling 10 rebounds, as well. Bahio added 11 markers on 4-of-4 shooting.

San Beda led by as much as 25 points in the game, 71-46, after a Nelle jumper.

After seeing no Heavy Bomber score in double-digits in their 31-point loss to San Sebastian last Tuesday, rookies Marwin Dionisio and Ry Dela Rosa had 13 and 11 points, respectively.

San Beda heads to the road on Thursday, July 18 against hosts EAC Generals in San Marcelino. JRU, on the other hand, will face another contender in the Letran Knights on Tuesday, July 16 at 12:00 pm.

The Scores:

SBU 74 – Canlas 17, Oftana 17, Bahio 11, Doliguez 7, Tankoua 6, Soberano 6, Nelle 5, Abuda 3, Carino 2, Etrata 0, Alfaro 0, Obenza 0, Cuntapay 0, Visser 0

JRU 52 – Dionisio 13, Dela Rosa 11, Vasquez 9, Amores 8, Steinl 6, Jungco 2, Aguilar 2, Abaoag 1, Arenal 0, Dela Virgen 0, Macatangay 0

Quarterscores: 21-10, 45-31, 66-43, 74-52