San Beda Red Lions Demolished Lyceum In NCAA Season 88 Men's Basketball Even Without Adeogun

"Almost Complete, Ola Adeogun Is The Only One Absent In This Pic. 2 More Games and He's Back!"

By Val Marvin G. Macanas

With almost a complete line-up, the San Beda Red Lions are now starting to establish their dominance in the NCAA Season 88 Men's Basketball as they cruised pass the struggling Lyceum University Pirates via 82-67. They are now on a 2 game winning streak and things are getting brighter and brighter for them especially once Ola Adeogun joins them. 2 more games and he will be on deck.

Let's review their game against the Lyceum Pirates. In the start of the game the Pascuals of San Beda, Jake and Kyle, started off the scoring for the Red Lions. They immediately led by 7 points, 11-4, in the first few minutes of the 1st Quarter, but Shane Ko of Lyceum scored to make it 11-6. Kyle Pascual crashing the boards while Jake blocking shots, imposing their will vs. the front-line of Lyceum.

With 3 minutes remaining in the 1st, Chris Elopre made shots including a booming three to cut down Beda's lead to 2, 11-9, but Ryusei Koga and Art Dela Cruz, the transferee from the Ateneo, made a combined 5 points. Art making a very impressive And 1 play resulting to a 16-9 lead with 2 mins. left in 1st.

Art Dela Cruz and Baser Amer proceeded to ignite the rally of the Red Lions. Baser made a nice lay-up while Art made 2 free-throws making the score 20-9 with 1:11 left in the 1st quarter. Amer attacking the rim, he was fouled and then he made his 2 free-throws, but it was answered by Zamora's 3, making it 22-12 with 40 secs. left. Amer, ever aggressive, fouled again, with 2 free-throws because Lyceum was already in penalty. He made both charities resulting to a 24-12 score in their favor at the end of 1st quarter.

The 2nd quarter started with Koga's 3 pointer. He's really shifty and he dribbles the ball really low. He's also fast and he can shoot the ball. He's really a good ball player. But Laude, Lyceum's versatile forward also made a 3 to answer Koga's field goal. Art Dela Cruz once again making his presence felt as he made an emphatic putback off the miss of their rookie guard Richie Villaruz, a standout from the LSGH Greenies. Due to those series of scoring rampage, San Beda still has a 10 point advantage with 7 mins. left on the clock.

Mark Francisco, the bruiser of Lyceum made a 2 over Art Dela Cruz to cut their deficit down to 8 with 6:50 left on the clock. Although, in the ensuing play, Richie Villaruz made his 2 free-throws after he attacked the rim, San Beda's lead back to 10, 31-21 with 6 mins. left.

Art Dela Cruz once again showed his strength with a power lay up, making the score 33-21. Yvan Ludovice also was very aggressive in attacking the defense of the Pirates. He was fouled while attempting to shoot a three pointer. He made 2 of his 3 charities. With 4:50 remaining, San Beda looked very sharp and unstoppable. Rome Dela Rosa made a 2 pointer. The lead of San Beda grew to 14 points with 3 mins. remaining in the 2nd quarter, 37-23.

Rome Dela Rosa, who looked a lot bigger with more heft and muscle, asserted his will in the rebounding end. Beda's front-line looks very formidable. Ola Adeogun is not yet in their line-up due to the sanction, yet they still look strong and dominant.

Lyceum's Chris Gueverra and Chris Cayabyab combined for 4 points to cut Beda's lead ,but the speedy guard of the Red Lions, Francis Abarcar made a timely three pointer to bring their lead back to double digits with 30 seconds remaining. 41-29 was the score at the end of the 1st half, in favor of San Beda.

The 3rd quarter started with Jake Pascual's 2 pointer to make it 43-29. Rome and Jake, "mina-mama ang laban" as Rome made another 2 pointer, to make it 47-33. Jake already with 4 pts. in the 3rd. He made the score become 51-33. Beda looking to pull away with 6:30 left in 3rd so coach Bonnie of Lyceum called a Timeout.

"Paambon-ambon" that's how I wanna describe the scoring of Lyceum in the 2nd Half. They can't seem to score until Chris Guevarra made a 2 pointer in the 5th minute mark of the 3rd. He's doing his best to help the cause of his team. He made another 2 to cut Beda's lead down to to 17, 56-39 with 3 mins. remaining.

Baser Amer meanwhile made another 2 pointer making it a 19 pt. lead 58-39. Baser making 3 straight pts. resulting to a whopping 22 pt. lead for Beda, 61-39 with 2 mins. left in the 3rd. Lyceum was in bad shape at that point. They can't find their touch while Beda was getting what they wanted. The 3rd quarter ended with a final score of 67-42 for Beda.

In the 4th quarter, Lyceum tried to make a run. Mark Francisco of the Pirates made 4 straight points 69-46 with 8:50 remaining in the 4th. But suddenly Baser Amer answered with 4 straight pts. making it 71-48. Jake Pascual also did some damage with an And 1 play resulting to a 74-50 score with 7 mins. left.

"Ang tindi ng Brillo ng Beda. Their line-up is really strong. even Yvan Ludovice and the rest of the 2nd stringers were contributing. He scored 2 points making the score 76-53 with 5 mins. left in the 4th. Beda was sitting pretty on a 21 pt. lead. Beda was not stopping in pounding the Pirates. Richie Villaruz and Dexter Zamora answering threes but it was still a 20 pt. lead for Beda, 80-60 with 1:52 left in the 4th. Well, Beda just overpowered Lyceum in this game. Lyceum made 5 straight pts. with 50 seconds left but no use. 82-67 is the final score in favor of Beda.

Coach Ronnie Magsanoc said that just like all the other teams, their aim is to be one of the top teams in the NCAA. When he was asked about the performance of his new players like Art Dela Cruz and the other young players he said that "lahat naman sila magagaling," in a calm tone. He was also asked by the media about his plans for their next game which is against the up and coming Perpetual Altas Team. He said "Proven coach si Coach Aric (Aric Del Rosario) kaya challenging yang game na yan." That's really a must watch game.

Scoring Stats:

San Beda College Red Lions (SBC) (82): Baser Amer 17, J. Pascual 14, Dela Cruz 11, Anjo Caram 8, Richie Villaruz 7, Rome Dela Rosa 7, Ryusei Koga 5, Yvan Ludovice 4, Kyle Pascual 4, Francis Abarcar 3, Melo Lim 2, Mendoza 0, Bonsubre 0, Moralde 0.

Lyceum University Pirates (LPU) (67): Chris Guevarra 14, Dexter Zamora 12, Chris Cayabyab 12, Francisco 10, Ko 8, Edding 5, Malari 3, Laude 3, Martinez 0, Garcia 0, Ambohot 0, Azores 0.

Scoring per quarter: 24-12, 41-29, 67-42,and 82-67