Games Wednesday (The Arena)
10 a.m. — SSC vs EAC (Jrs)
11:45 a.m. — CSB vs CSJL (Jrs)
2 p.m. — SSC vs EAC (Srs)
4 p.m. — CSB vs CSJL (Srs)

Defending champion San Beda College dominated the boards and scored almost at will en route to a breezy 113-79 win over Angeles University Foundation Monday in the 85th NCAA basketball tournament at The Arena in San Juan City.

“It was a great effort from us,” SBC coach Frankie Lim said after his Lions shot close to 60 percent from the field to improve their card to 11-1.

It was the second worst defeat by AUF in the league after a 101-63 thrashing from Mapua in the first round while San Beda’s 34-point winning margin was its second biggest this year.

San Beda’s win in the high school division, however, was more impressive as the Red Cubs dumped the Junior Danes, 168-24, for the league’s most lopsided win so far.

Also making big headway going into the home stretch of the elimination round were the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers who trounced the MIT Cardinals, 72-59, in the second game.

The Heavy Bombers, who settled for a split for the day after the Red Robins tripped the Lighties, 94-91, kept their bid for a twice-to-beat incentive in the semifinals going with their 10th win in 12 outings.

Mark Cagoco anchored the Heavy Bombers’ win with his 18 points, including three triples inside the final three minutes that doused cold water on the Cardinals’ rally.

The Cardinal, who trailed by as much as 24 points in the third canto, threatened at 54-58 with under three minutes left but Cagoco’s three straight triples and John Wilson’s jumper moved the Bombers away from harm, 69-59, time down to 54.8 ticks.

The Cardinals are also out of contention for the Final 4 after they joined the Great Danes at 1-11.

“I told them to play hard because this will help us prepare for the bigger games ahead especially against Jose Rizal,” Lim said. “I also told them not to baby this team (AUF), and good thing, we came out strong.”

The victory extended the Lions’ winning streak to 10, and three more wins will send the Mendiola-based cagers straight into the Final Four for the fourth straight season.

With the loss, their 10th straight and 11th overall, the Danes are already out of the Final Four picture.

Lim was elated at the way his wards played their offense, sharing the ball well that saw them post 24 assists.

“One thing nice about our team is we share the ball. We don’t just rely on one player, we go with the flow of our offense,” Lim, whose wards also dominated the boards, 55-39, said.

Running at every opportunity, the Lions quickly asserted their might against the Danes crew who went on to shoot just below 40 percent, including a dismal 8-of-25 from the field.

First Game (Jrs)
SBC 168 — Sara 30, dela Cruz 20, Nayve 19, Amer 18, Javier 14, Nazareno 13, Ludovice 12, Abatayo 12, Monteclaro 11, Chavez 8, dela Costa 6, Gotladera 5, Lunas 0.
AUF 24 — Tuazon 8, Gando 6, Dizon 4, Tamayo 2, Lakandula 2, Bondoc 2, Maniti 0, Castillejos 0, Cayanan 0, Laxamana 0, Gopez 0.
Quarters: 48-6, 91-14, 131-20, 168-24.

Second Game (Jrs)
MAPUA 94 — Basas 33, Alejaqndro 32, Valdez 12, Aviso 7, Castillo 5, Mena 3, Targa 2, dela Cruz 0, Abad 0, de Castro 0, Reyes 0.
JRU 91 — Vigil 31, Saret 18, Garcia 13, dela Paz 12, Olivieria 8, Fegidero 7, Yasa 2, Vasquez 0, Rosales 0, Ludivice 0, Barranco 0.
Quarters: 13-26, 31-37, 53-64, 83-83 (Reg.), 94-91 (OT)

Third Game (Srs)
SBC 113 — Marcelo 16, Taganas 15, Daniel 15, Pascual 14, Caram 9, Lanete 7, Villanueva 6, Tecson 6, Soliman 6, dela Rosa 5, Gamalinda 5, Lim 5, Sorela 4, Tirona 0.
AUF 79 — Manarang 24, Gomez 13, Fuertez 11, Musni 10, Cayanan 7, Santos 4, Nacu 3, Carney 2, Gigante 2, Sazon 2, Perez 1, Maniago 0, Dumlao 0.
Quarters: 28-12, 55-29, 85-58, 113-79.

Fourth Game (Srs)
JRU 72 — Wilson 18, Cagoco 18, Agas 10, Sena 9, Apinan 6, Lopez 4, Kabigting 3, Njei 2, Hayes 2, Montemayor 0, Bulangis 1, Etame 0.
MAPUA 59 — Acosta 16, Cornejo 13, Guillermo
13, Pascual 6, Raneses 6, Parala 2, Stevens 1, Sarangay 0, Cinco 1, Soriano 0.
Quarters: 17-9, 36-21, 54-43, 72-59.