Just like in their first round encounter, the San Beda College Red Lions waylayed the College of Saint Benilde Blazers, 72-58, Tuesday afternoon to notch their eight straight win. However, unlike their July 18 meeting, things got chippy between both squads and it might have ended Robert Bolick’s Most Valuable Player aspirations.
“It’s already a won game,” an infuriated Boyet Fernandez expressed after the game.
With the game already out of reach with San Beda leading 76-52 with 2:28 left, Bolick was going for a fastbreak attempt against Carlo Young and Unique Naboa. Trying to stop the San Beda senior, Young took down Bolick by grabbing his right shoulder that forced the two student-athletes to the ground.
“It is unethical. We were up 14 points and then you tackle the other player? Why penalize that guy who did not even punch?” Fernandez expressed about hte moment. “You have to see that. The other team only had one foul and we already had six fouls. Then you throw out a player that was tackled. I hope the commissioner will see that.”
Things escalated between the two and had to be separated by their teammates, including San Beda’s Clint Doliguez who came off the bench.
“San ka makakita na closed fist yun? Tignan mo yung replay!” furthered Fernandez.
After careful review, the officials deemed that Bolick, who scored a San Beda-high of 14 points to go along with 11 assits and seven rebounds, threw a closed fist during the brief melee that ensued. Bolick, Doliguez, and Young were all thrown out of the game and pending appeal, all three will be ineligible to bag any post-season award.
This is the the second time this season Young has been ejected. He was thrown off during CSB’s win over Mapua last August 8.
“We’ll just wait for the report of the commissioner. If it’s a closed fist, it’s a closed fist but you have to show me the tape now. I think it’s not really a closed fist. He was even pushed by the other guy. Tatayo na, tinulak pa,” Fernandez said.
Davon Potts added 12 points, including six points during the game-breaking second frame that saw San Beda limit Saint Benilde to just 10 points. The Red Lions led by as much as 25 points, 63-38, with four minutes left in the third frame.
Mocon finished with a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Clement Leutcheu paced the 2-8 Benilde Blazers with 25 points and 15 rebounds. However, the Blazers were limited to just a 27.27 percent shooting clip.
San Beda will next face the Mapua on Friday at 12:00nn. Saint Benilde, on the other hand, takes on the Lyceum Pirates on the same day at 2:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC 72 – Bolick 14, Potts 12, Mocon 10, Soberano 8, Tankoua 7, Cabanag 5, Noah 5, Bahio 4, Carino 3, Adamos 2, Doliguez 2, Abuda 0, Oftana 0, Tongco 0.
CSB 58 – Leutcheu 25, Domingo 8, Sta. Maria 8, Pili 5, Castor 4, Belgica 2, Dixon 2, Naboa 2, San Juan 2, Johnson 0, Young 0.
Quarterscores: 17-18, 41-28, 63-41, 72-58.
