After gaining a quarterfinals berth a week ago, San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin utilized his bench in a close-affair against the Adamson University Soaring Falcons.
The San Beda bench were able to secure the defensive stops they needed as the Red Lions were able to stave-off a hungry Soaring Falcons-squad, 86-81, Thursday afternoon at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
“This is an opportunity for them to experience what it is to be in a close game,” San Beda head coach Jamike Jarin said about his closing five of Arnold Noah, Kenneth Alas, AC Soberano, Ranbil Tongco, and Joe Presbitero. “You try to develop their character. You can’t simulate this in practices.”
“There are comments like ‘what is he doing?’ That the point! You let them think what is going on in the game.”
Donald Tankoua led the Red Lions with 21 points and 15 boards in 26 minutes of action, none in the final quarter, while AC Soberano continued his impressive Premier Cup campaign with ten points.
The Red Lions were able to gain the biggest lead of the game, 74-61, with 7:41 remaining in the game. However, the Soaring Falcons’ outside shooting suddenly came back as they went on a 10-4 rally sparked by back-to-back triples by Harold Ng and Jerrick Ahanmisi to cut the lead to just seven with 3:06 remaining.
A careless foul by Sean Manganti against Presbitero gave Beda three charities while an Adamson turnover led to a wide-open lay-up for Tongco. After a Franz Pumaren timeout, Adamson continued their blistering streak from downtown with Robbie Manalang knocking down two triples while Ahanmisi added one more. A split by Papi Sarr from the stripe cut the lead to just four, 85-81, with 19 ticks remaining.
The youth and inexperience of the Falcons showed as JD Tungcab wasted precious time in failing to foul for 12 seconds. A split on the stripe by Noah sealed the game for the defending Premier Cup champions.
“They can compete. We just wanted to see them fight,” Jarin said about the win. “Of course, the point of all of this is the NCAA Season. Sabi nga nila, ‘it’s all about the journey.'”
Manalang led Adamson with 19 points on 7-for-17 shooting, 5-for-10 from distance. He was able to dish out seven dimes as well. Sarr notched a double-double with 16 points and 18 boards. Harold Ng added 15 points, all from downtown, in the loss.
San Beda (B, 5-1) will face old rivals Ateneo on Sunday, June 5 at 11:15am. On the other hand, the Soaring Falcons (B, 3-3) are now in a win or go home situation as they face the UE Red Warriors (B, 3-3) on the same day at 3:15pm.
The Scores:
SBC (86) – Tankoua 21, Soberano 10, Bolick 9, Potts 8, Presbitero 8, Sara 7, Oftana 6, Noah 5, Tongco 4, Navarro 3, Cabanag 3, Mocon 2, Carlos 0, Alas 0.
ADU (81) – Manalang 19, Sarr 16, Ng 15, Ahanmisi 9, Manganti 6, Tungcab 5, Ochea 5, Bernardo 4, Pasturan 2, Paranada 0, Camacho 0, Cadua 0.
Quarterscores: 17-27, 48-42, 69-58, 86-81.
