Dirty dozen

It’s really tough playing a team like JRU because it has nothing to lose.

JAMES Canlas (right) leads San Beda past JRU. Joaquin Flores

San Beda University captured its 12th straight win in an impressive fashion following a convincing 65-47 win over Jose Rizal University (JRU) in Season 95 National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.

James Canlas and Calvin Oftana connived, engineering a sizzling rally that allowed the Red Lions to rip the game wide open to stretch their streak to 24 dating to as far as last year.

Canlas delivered 18 points, seven rebounds and two assists while Oftana fired 12 markers on top of seven rebounds and three blocks for the Red Lions, who unleashed a 23-5 salvo in the crucial stretch to turn the game from a nail-biter into a rout.

San Beda coach Boyet Fernandez said they entered the game with caution, knowing that the Heavy Bombers will go all out as they were playing with nothing to lose.

“It’s really tough playing a team like JRU because it has nothing to lose,” said Fernandez, whose wards last tasted the bitterness of a defeat — a 66-73 setback to Lyceum of the Philippines University — on 12 August last year.

“Our defense propelled us to this win. But still, this is a lesson learned for us, there should be consistency from start to finish.”

Fernandez said they were anemic in the first half as their defense was virtually non-existent.

“We were not playing the way we should play. The defense wasn’t there. Everyone wants to make their own shots,” said Fernandez, whose wards shot 42.5 percent from the field in the first half.

“I always remind my boys that they should play as a team — not for the MVP (Most Valuable Player) award.”

After a sluggish start, the Red Lions saw themselves trailing in the second quarter as they posted only six points for a 27-31 deficit at half time.

The Heavy Bombers even took the lead, 33-27, until Canlas waxed hot to restore order and square the count at 36.

It was a nip-and-tuck battle from there as the Heavy Bombers always found a way to mount a comeback until the duo of Canlas and Oftana stepped on the gas and unload a 23-5 bomb that flattened the gutsy Heavy Bombers.

Agem Miranda nailed 14 points while John Amores had 11 markers for the Heavy Bombers, who dropped to 4-8 win-loss card.