The San Beda College Red Lions are facing its toughest stretch with its playoff hopes still at stake.
After ending the first round with a 9-1 record, last season’s runners-up have won just three games in the second round, losing three of its last four games. Moreover, the Red Lions have yet to figure out how to replace the production the Mendiola cagers lost after Donald Tankoua’s season-ending injury.
In those three losses, the Red Lions had to battle back but eventually succumbed in the final frame. However, San Beda suffered its worst setback this season, falling to JRU in a game that saw the Heavy Bombers lead by as much 27 points.
“We tend to relax,” San Beda team captain Dan Sara told Camille Naredo of ABS-CBN News. “After that we came back, but it’s part of the game naman.”
The Cagayan de Oro-native could not cite a specific reason why the team had are plagued by slow starts.
“Hindi ko alam kung pagod kami or ano, pero siguro, ever since sa start, nabigyan namin ng kumpyansa ang JRU kaya sila lumayo,” the 23 year old shared.
Still in the midst of their toughest stretch of the season, the Red Lions do not have the luxury of looking back on those losses but instead are just looking to find the solution to their woes, especially with the Arellano Chiefs now gaining pole position in the standings.
“Hindi pa end ng season namin,” he said. “We’ll just prepare for Lyceum, Perpetual, and Arellano.”
With its last three opponents featuring elite big men, Mike Nzeusseu, Bright Akhuetie, and Dioncee Holts respectively, the King Lion is hoping that they could contain those three from the get-go so will not fall into the same whole once again.
“Pero ‘yun nga, ‘yung start namin, doon talaga. It all boils down sa start ng game,” he closed.
The Red Lions look to snap out of its funk on Friday, September 9, facing Nzeusseu and the Lyceum Pirates.
