The San Beda College Red Lions survived a furious Emilio Aguinaldo College General rally, and an injury to foreign student-athlete Donald Tankoua, in a 90-82 win, Friday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Tankoua, the Red Lions’ leading rebounder at 11.5 boards per contest, was taken out of the game just 5 minutes and 30 seconds in. After backing down against Hamadou Laminou, the foreign student-athlete suddenly crashed to the floor and had be brought to the dugout.
“They are still looking at it,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin said. “Hopefully it’s just a bruise.”
Stepping up for the Red Lions was 20-year-old transferee from TIP, Benedict Adamos. The 6’6″ Bicol-native scored 11 markers, seven in the final frame, and grabbed four rebounds in just 14 minutes of game time.
“We have 15 players. Donald Tankoua goes down then Benedict Adamos who is ready to step in,” he furthered. “That’s how we do things here. We prepare these young men for battles. He was ready.”
The Mendiola cagers, however, surrendered a 16 point lead early in the third frame as the Generals went on a 15-2 surge, capped by an Igee King triple to give EAC a 59-58 edge.
“Because of the injury of Tankoua, everybody was just worried. Na-off balanced kami,” the mentor added. “We got scattered brains in the third quarter.”
The Red Lions were able to retake the lead midway through the final frame, limiting the Generals for a 78-71 lead with 5:25 remaining. However, the effects of not having Tankoua on the floor was felt by San Beda as Sidney Onwubere was able to crash the boards, leading to an 8-2 counter rally that cut the Red Lion lead to just one, 80-79.
Jarin, a master tactician, called for time and fielded a center-less line-up on offense. This led to free throws for Radge Tongco and a wide-open triple by AC Soberano to give their team an 85-79 lead with 1:23 remaining. Francis Munsayac was able to answer right back with a triple on his own.
The Generals, despite San Beda’s smaller line-up, stuck to a zone defense, failing to seal out Soberano. Robert Bolick found the NCAA’s three-point king once more for a triple.
On the other end, San Beda entered a tall line-up that featured Javee Mocon, Adamos, Kenneth Alas, Joe Presbitero, and Calvin Optana. The wall was able to secure the win for the Generals
Davon Potts led San Beda with 21 markers, 15 in the second frame.
For the Generals, five players scored in double-figures led by Sidney Onwubere. Onwubere stuffed the statsheets with 19 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, and six blocks. However, he had nine turnovers.
The Red Lions (10-1) face the San Sebastian Stags (2-9) on Tuesday, August 23, at 12:00nn. On the other hand, the Generals (3-8) look to snap out of their funk on Thursday, August 25, against the Chiefs at 4:00pm.
The Scores:
SBC (90) – Potts 20, Tongco 12, Adamos 11, Mocon 10, Bolick 8, Soberano 8, Noah 8, Tankoua 5, Presbitero 3, Oftana 2, Alas 2, Sara 0, Bonsubre 0, Carlos 0, Navarro 0
EAC (82) – Onwubere 19, Laminou 18, Munsayac 15, King 14, Morada 13, Diego 2, Pascua 1, Neri 0, Corilla 0, Guzman 0, Mendoza 0
Quarterscores: 27-18, 48-37, 66-67, 90-82
