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JB Bahio and James Kwekuteye each scored 13 points for San Beda University as the Red Lions found an easy prey on the Arellano University Chief en route to a masterful 96-61 win in the NCAA Season 98 men's basketball tournament Friday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan City.
Bahio and Kwekuteye, two reliable veterans of rookie head coach Yuri Escueta, provided not just scoring but steady leadership for San Beda, which absorbed an 83-80 stunning loss to Jose Rizal University in their previous game.
The two made sure none of that happened this time against Arellano.
From the get-go, San Beda dominated the game and grabbed a 29-9 advantage after the first 10 minutes of action. The Mendiola-based team led by as many as 51 points, 84-33, to end the third period.
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Bahio, who came off the bench and played just 15 minutes, also collared eight rebounds and had three assists. Kwekuteye also had the same numbers of rebounds and added two assists and two steals.
San Beda playmaker Winston Ynot contributed 11 points, while Justine Sanchez and Jacob Cortez had 10 points apiece for San Beda, which moved to solo third place with a 5-2 record.
Arellano, which came through with a 64-59 win against last season's finalists Mapua on Sunday, fell to seventh place with a 4-4 slate.
Escueta said their loss to JRU was somehow a wakeup call for the whole team.
“It was really a humbling experience,” said Escueta, who took the coaching reins from Boyet Fernandez who is now a team consultant.
“Coming into that JRU game, medyo 'yung mga players. I can say naging overconfident tapos we didn't respect our opponent.”
San Beda shot 22-of-37 (59.5 percent) from the field in the first half, and 39-of-82 (47.6 percent) for the game. In comparison, Arellano was held to 9-of-31 (29 percent) in the first two quarters, and 24-of-73 (32.7 percent) overall.
The Lions also controlled the boards, 55-40, and forced the Chiefs to 16 turnovers, which resulted in 19 San Beda turnover points.
Darrel Menina led Arellano with 10 points.
The Scores:
San Beda (96) – Kwekuteye 13, Bahio 13, Ynot 11, Sanchez 10, Cortez 10, Andrada 7, Alfaro 7, Cometa 6, Cuntapay 5, Jopia 4, Tagala 3, Payosing 3, Visser 2, Tagle 2, Alloso 0.
Arellano (61) – Menina 10, Doromal 8, Flores 7, Oliva 7, Sunga 7, Mantua 6, Domingo 5, Abastillas 4, Punzalan 3, Talampas 3, Mallari 1, Tolentino 0, Oftana 0.
Quarterscores: 29-9, 55-23, 84-33, 96-61.
Games Today (Filoil EcoOil Centre)
12 noon EAC vs Mapua
3 p.m. Perpetual Help vs Letran
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Credit belongs to : www.manilatimes.net
