The San Beda College Red Lions returned to the win column after a 106-80 rout of a ten-man Mapua Institute of Technology Cardinals squad Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Majority of the Cardinals were feeling under the weather for the game with Allwell Oraeme (fever) missing the game. Moreover, even head coach Atoy Co was sick.
“Of course you cannot be too happy with the victory,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin said. “Of course, Oraeme is possible the best center in the Philippines right now. Mapua is a different team when he’s there.”
The game was close in the first half as both teams shot the lights out with Beda holding a 59-47 lead. Almel Orquina and Exe Biteng paced the undermanned Cardinals squad in combining for 15 markers and knocking down five triples. Robert Bolick led the way for the Red Lions during the opening half with 12 points on 3 for 3 shooting from the field and 5 for 5 from the stripe.
The troika of King Lion Dan Sara, Jeramer Cabanag, and AC Soberano broke the game wide-open in the third frame. Sara scored eight markers in the opening moments of the quarter that helped give San Beda a 77-56 lead with 5:12 remaining.
With Jarin opting Sara to take a rest, the duo of Cabanag and Soberano wrecked havoc with Cabanag knocking down three triples while Cabanag slashed his way to the paint in scoring ten markers in the game. Moreover, they helped give the Red and White a game-high 29 point lead, 87-58, two minutes before the final frame began.
“Jeramer Cabanag played really well. He was the one who gave us the big lead,” Jarin said. “If I was going to chose who’s the MVP, I would have given it to him.”
Bolick finished the game with 15 points on 100 percent shooting from the field and the foul stripe. Dan Sara added 14 markers while Soberano and Cabanag scored ten apiece. San Beda played all 18 players on their roster.
Orquina led Mapua with 26 points but was a mind-boggling 11 for 24 from the field. Exe Biteng knocked down five triples in the game for 17 points.
San Beda (B, 3-1) will next play rivals Letran on Sunday, May 29 at 4:00pm. On the other hand, the Cardinals (B, 1-4) hope to have all their troops back on the same day against the UE Red Warriors at 6:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC (106) – Bolick 15, Sara 14, Soberano 10, Cabanag 10, Tongco 9, Tankoua 8, Potts 8, Carlos 4, Mocon 4, Oftana 4, Presbitero 4, Decapia 4, Bahio 4, Noah 4, Navarro 2, Adamos 2, Alas 0, Bonsubre 0.
MIT (80) – Orquina 26, Biteng 17, Raflores 11, Serrano 7, Isit 5, Menina 5, Victoria 5, Magboo 2, Bunag 2, Gamboa 0.
Quarterscores: 30-24, 59-47, 87-62, 106-80.
Photo by Hanna Raissa Callos
