This time around, the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers refused to let the San Beda Red Lions move away by a big margin in the first three quarters.
But when the Red Lions finally woke up from a slow start and what could be their worst game of the season, San Beda limited the Heavy Bombers to just four points in the final period and came away with a 65-47 swamping yesterday at the FilOil-Flying V Sports Center.
James Canlas went on to unload 18 points for the Red Lions, who posted their 12th straight win in the 95th National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Calvin Oftana backed up Canlas with 12 points in helping the Red Lions move three notches ahead of the Lyceum Pirates.
“We had a scare there. We did not do a good job there. And it’s really tough playing against a team like JRU, which has nothing to lose,” said Red Lions’ coach Boyet Fernandez on their game situation, which never happened to them in their 11 games.
Agem Miranda fired 14 points for JRU, who now have a 4-8 win-loss slate.
Chester Jungco’s split charity in the last 2:17 of the third period allowed JRU to smash a 42-all deadlock, moving them ahead by a point.
A layup and two freebies from Canlas followed in the last 14.3 seconds and the San Beda began moving away, 47-43, at the end of the third.
Awful shooting from JRU in the fourth allowed San Beda to pull away on an 11-0 blast as it took a 58-43 spread in the last 3:24.
The Red Lions, who were limited to six points in the second period, will next meet San Sebastian on Tuesday.
Earlier, the San Beda Red Cubs, with Rhayyan Amsali hitting 16 points, pulled off their seventh win in fending off the JRU Light Bombers,88-68, in junior action.
Yukien Andrada and Cyrus Llarena had 11 points for the Red Cubs, who fortified their hold on the solo lead at 11-1.
This pulled down the Light Bombers to a tie for fourth-place at 6-6 with the Arellano Braves.
Mark Cuenco had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Arellano Braves in toppling the University of Perpetual Help Junior Altas, 86-62.
Yuki Kawamura struck with 18 points for the Junior Altas, who have a 5-6 card.
