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By Frank Calapre Correspondent
DEFENDING champion San Beda
College stamped its class over San Sebastian College-Recoletos,
96-76, Friday to clinch at least a playoff for the last
semifinal slot in the 83rd National Collegiate Athletic Association
men’s basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan.
Yousif Aljamal, Pong Escobal and
Nigerian exchange scholar San Ekwe combined for 51 points as the Red
Lions joined archrival Colegio de San Juan de Letran on top of the
standings at 7-1.
Letran, the winningest team in
the league with 18 titles, will try to formally enter the Final Four
when it faces Mapua Institute of Technology on Wednesday.
San Beda, on the other hand, will
do the same when it meets College of St. Benilde on Friday.
“I don’t want to talk about
the finals yet. I just want to take every game one at a time. But
I’m confident we will win against St. Benilde in our next game,”
said San Beda head coach Frankie Lim.
The Stags, who also bowed to the
Red Lions, 64-73, on July 20, remain in contention for a semis seat
with their 3-4 win-loss record.
Led by Aljamal, Escobal and the
6-foot-9 Ekwe, the Red Lions padded their 14-7 lead to 26-13 at the
end of the first period.
“The boys played well, they
were able to execute our plays. I can say that they are more focused
now,” said Lim.
Back-to-back triples by Aljamal
and Escobal gave the Red Lions a commanding 71-47 advantage, two
minutes remaining in the third period.
Aljamal scored a game high 23
points on top of 12 rebounds and had 6 assists, while Ekwe and
Escobal finished with 17 points each.
Gilbert Bulawan led the Stags
with 17 points followed by Froilan Squillo and Juanito Quiamco with
9 and 8 points, respectively.
Scores:
San Beda 96—Aljamal 23, Escobal
17, Ekwe 17, Menor 7, Hermida 6, Gamalinda 5, Lanete 5, Tecson 5,
Maggay 4, Marcelo 4, Tirona 3, Tagupa 0
San Sebastian 76—Bulawan 17,
Saquillo 9, Quiamco 8, Delgado 7, de Leon 7, Raymundo 6, Najorda 6,
Viray 6. del Rio 5, Ballesteros 4, Ampatuan 1, Zulueta 0
Quarters: 26-13; 53-28; 72-51;
96-76.
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