#FilOil2019: San Beda outmuscle La Salle to sweep their way to third title

SAN JUAN -- San Beda eased their way anew to their third FilOil FlyingV Preseason Cup after smothering La Salle in the finale, 74-57 Sunday evening at the FilOil FlyingV Centre.

The Red Lions found themselves trailing in the first 20 minutes, but that all changed in their third quarter where they clamped down the Green Archers to just seven points and swept its way to the title, winning all ten games in the showpiece men's division.

Senior slotman Donald Tankoua 17 points to lead the champions, with James Canlas chipped in 15.

Heading into the title game, San Beda and La Salle are both tied in their clashes for the crown in the past four meetings, and it was the latter who took the initiative in the first half leading by a single point.

But that all changed after the break when San Beda unleashed a 16-2 haymaker to open the third quarter that overturned the huge deficit into a 49-36 advantage that they kept on until the final buzzer, and even led by as much as 22, 74-52 on a Calvin Oftana corner jumper with 1:39 left in the game.

Encho Serrano was the lone Archer in double figures with a dozen points as they finish as bridesmaid for the fourth time in the history of the tournament.

The scores:

San Beda 74 -- Tankoua 17, Canlas 15, Doliguez 13, Oftana 9, Penuela 7, Bahio 5, Nelle 4, Carino 2, Etrata 2, Abuda 0, Noah 0, Obenza 0, Soberano 0

La Salle 57 -- Serrano 12, Baltazar 8, Bartlett 7, Capacio 7, Lojera 6, Melecio 5, Cagulangan 5, Bates 4, Caracut 2, Lim 1, Cu 0, David 0, Escandor 0, Bonggay 0, Manaytay 0

Quarter scores: 12-12, 33-34, 57-41, 74-57

(Photo by FilOil FlyingV Sports)